AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY OF OPTIMAL PARAMETERS FOR BIPOLAR ELECTROCOAGULATION

The role of artery diameter, probe force application (94, 250 or 491 g ), coagulation time (2, 10, or 20 secs) and BICAP generator output (5, 10) were studied in rabbit arteries of 3 to 5 mm hemicircumference. A rterial welds were then tested to destruction by increasing intralumin al pressure. The best arterial welds were achieved by the highest forc e and coagulation time; high generator output did not improve weld str ength. These in vitro experiments suggest that when treating a bleedin g peptic ulcer, BICAP therapy should be done with a low generator outp ut of 5 or less, for at least 20 seconds per site, and with as great a compression force as possible.