Electrosurgical units

Abstract

The apparent ability of a certain type of high frequency electric current arc to divide animal tissue was reported by Dr. Lee De Foeest in 1808 with the suggestion that this electric current might be useful in surgery. Cerny similarly reported in 1910. The history of electrosurgery combines the story of the physics of electric currents and of surgery. Although the many electrosurgical units built between 1920 and 1930 gave satisfactory cutting and/or coagulating service in most electrosurgical procedures, they failed in endoscopic surgery. This failure was found to be due to the fact the water used for bladder distention, irrigation and visibility dissipated so much of the electric current that only a relatively small portion of it reached the prostatic tissue which the surgeon was trying to cut with the wire loop. Since 1930, when demands for electrourosurgical equipment became insistent due to publicity and approval of endoscopic prostatic surgery, units have been improved and developed; now the best ones cut tissue rapidly and electrocoagulate bleeding vessels adequately even though the active electrode is immersed in water or a nonelectrolyte fluid.