Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Not the Retiring Type - January 2015 - Subscribe to Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.

Issue link: http://outpatientsurgery.uberflip.com/i/445049

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 45 of 148

4 6 O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | JANUARY 2015 The ABC's of Electrosurgery A pop quiz to test your staff's knowledge. E lectrosurgery units can be one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment in your OR, mostly because many surgeons and staff members don't understand the basic principles of electro- surgery and the best ways to avoid burns. Use this short quiz to refresh their memories so they can better protect themselves and your patients. 1. electricity follows the path of least resistance. a. true b. false answer: a Electrosurgery uses a high-frequency current that's converted into heat as it passes through resistance. The patient's tissue is what pro- vides resistance. Bone and fat have the greatest resistance, meaning they are the poorest conductors of electricity, while nerves and mus- cle have the least resistance. If the tissue is a good conductor, it will allow easy passage of the current and generate less heat. Resistance also depends on the path that electricity takes through the body. For example, if the electricity goes in the patient's left hand and out his S A F E T Y Vangie Dennis, RN, BSN, CNOR, CMLSO z PrOPer PreCaUtiOn When surgeons employ electrosurgery, be sure they follow protocols to minimize risks of accidental burns.

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Outpatient Surgery Magazine - Not the Retiring Type - January 2015 - Subscribe to Outpatient Surgery Magazine