Definition
Definition
The term electrosurgery refers to the technique using heat produced by the passage of an electric current through an operating instrument whose purpose is to burn (more precisely to carbonize) pathological (diseased) tissues.
Depending on the instrument used, it is necessary to distinguish between electrocoagulation, also called thermocoagulation, and electrodissection.
Electrocoagulation, preferably used for the destruction of small tumors, is carried out using a needle through which an electric current passes. It can also be an electrode that ends in a small sphere, allowing at the same time to destroy, by electrocoagulation, a larger area. Of course, after this carbonization, observation under a microscope of these destroyed tissues is no longer possible.
Electrodissection is performed with an electrosurgical unit. This is used to cut different tissues as is usually achieved using a conventional scalpel. The advantage of electrodissection is its speed and less frequent occurrence of hemorrhages.
Medical exam
Technical
The areas of application of electrosurgery are dermatology (skin diseases) and gastroenterology (digestive tract diseases).
In dermatology, electrosurgery can be used to treat small tumors, as well as angiomas, rosacea, warts, trichoepithelioma, etc. Some dermatologists use it to treat diseases related to hair and body hair.
The procedure involves cutting the skin around and beneath the lesion. The dermatologist must take care not to burn the subcutaneous tissue. To do this, he or she lifts the cut lesion using forceps. The resulting sample is examined under a microscope.
The doctor then proceeds to suture the wound resulting from electrosurgery, using suitable threads. The difference with electrocoagulation is that the lesion is directly destroyed during the procedure.
In another field, gastroenterology, electrosurgery allows the treatment of certain tumors. These are essentially polyps (stomach, rectum, duodenum, colon, etc.).
Similar to what is done in dermatology, the polyp is removed and then examined under a microscope to detect possible cancerous cells. Electrosurgery, still in the field of gastroenterology, can also be performed endoscopically. This requires the prior introduction of an optical system (through the anus or mouth) to visualize the lesions. This optical device is accompanied by instruments allowing electrocoagulation.