TY - JOUR
T1 - Current technological advances of bipolar coagulation
AU - Vellimana, Ananth K.
AU - Sciubba, Daniel M.
AU - Noggle, Joseph C.
AU - Jallo, George I.
PY - 2009/3
Y1 - 2009/3
N2 - BACKGROUND: Heat has been used to control bleeding for thousands of years. In the 1920s, this concept was applied to the development of electrosurgical instruments and was used to control hemorrhage during surgical procedures. In the time that has passed since its first use, electrosurgery has evolved into modern-day bipolar technology, involving a diverse group of coagulation instruments. METHODS: We review the evolution and advances in electrosurgery, specifically bipolar coagulation, and the current technologies available for intraoperative hemorrhage control. RESULTS: Electrosurgery has evolved to include highly accurate devices that deliver thermal energy via nonstick and noncontact methods. Over time, the operative range of coagulation instruments has increased dramatically with the incorporation of irrigating pathways, a wide range of instrument tips to perform various functions, and the application of bipolar technology to microforceps and microscissors for minimally invasive procedures. CONCLUSION: Electrosurgical devices and techniques, especially bipolar coagulation, have developed significantly with the availability of new technologies. This has led to better intraoperative coagulation control while minimizing iatrogenic damage associated with heat spread and tissue adherence, thus potentially improving outcomes for neurosurgical procedures.
AB - BACKGROUND: Heat has been used to control bleeding for thousands of years. In the 1920s, this concept was applied to the development of electrosurgical instruments and was used to control hemorrhage during surgical procedures. In the time that has passed since its first use, electrosurgery has evolved into modern-day bipolar technology, involving a diverse group of coagulation instruments. METHODS: We review the evolution and advances in electrosurgery, specifically bipolar coagulation, and the current technologies available for intraoperative hemorrhage control. RESULTS: Electrosurgery has evolved to include highly accurate devices that deliver thermal energy via nonstick and noncontact methods. Over time, the operative range of coagulation instruments has increased dramatically with the incorporation of irrigating pathways, a wide range of instrument tips to perform various functions, and the application of bipolar technology to microforceps and microscissors for minimally invasive procedures. CONCLUSION: Electrosurgical devices and techniques, especially bipolar coagulation, have developed significantly with the availability of new technologies. This has led to better intraoperative coagulation control while minimizing iatrogenic damage associated with heat spread and tissue adherence, thus potentially improving outcomes for neurosurgical procedures.
KW - Bipolar
KW - Coagulation
KW - Hemostasis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=62849094713&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1227/01.NEU.0000335644.57481.97
DO - 10.1227/01.NEU.0000335644.57481.97
M3 - Article
C2 - 19240559
AN - SCOPUS:62849094713
VL - 64
SP - ons11-ons18
JO - Neurosurgery
JF - Neurosurgery
SN - 0148-396X
IS - 3 SUPPL.
ER -