HISTOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ELECTROSURGICAL INJURIES

Study Objective. To describe the wide variation of histologic characte ristics produced by electrosurgical burns. Design. Retrospective analy sis. Setting. University-associated teaching hospital. Subjects. Pigs and dogs. Interventions. Various power settings were employed with bot h monopolar and bipolar electrodes to incur electrosurgical damage. An imals were followed for up to 96 hours after injury. Measurements and Main Results. Histologic analysis yielded characteristics of electrosu rgical damage including areas of complete necrosis and coagulation, pe rivascular changes, endothelial damage, and hyperchromic pyknotic nucl ei. White cell infiltration was seen only at the margin of necrotic zo nes of coagulation. Conclusion. The wide spectrum of histology from el ectrosurgical burns is primarily a result of the area that is sampled. Surgeons should actively investigate any postsurgical complications i nvolving electrosurgery to obtain a definitive cause.