N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 9 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 7 3
E
lectrosurgical
injuries are
estimated to
occur in 1 to 2
out of every
1,000 laparoscopic proce-
dures. That doesn't seem like
many, but when you consider
about 2 million cases involv-
ing surgical energy instru-
ments are performed in the
U.S. each year, these figures
are cause for alarm — and re-
education. After all, electro-
surgical injuries are preventa-
ble. With that in mind, let's
look at the most common
electrosurgery failures that
lead to patient injuries as well
as the practical steps you can take to prevent these negative out-
comes from taking place at your facility.
1. Insulation breaches
Small amounts of current can leak through minute breaks and small
cracks in the shaft of an electrosurgical instrument and stray from the
intended energy path to cause small electrical burns to non-targeted
areas of tissue.
Understanding Electrosurgery Safety
Practical pointers for protecting patients from stray current and hot instruments.
• KNOWLEDGE GAP Surgeons often think they understand surgical
energy, but many don't have the formal training needed to truly know
how the devices work.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
Leena Khaitan, MD, MPH, FACS | Cleveland, Ohio
