Genital tract electrical burns during hysteroscopic endometrial ablation: Report of 13 cases in the United States and Canada

We investigated 13 alleged thermal injuries to the genital tract of women u ndergoing hysteroscopic endometrial ablation. Possible mechanisms proposed to explain these injuries are hot-weighted speculum, povidone-iodine scrub solution, inadequate rinsing of Cider sterilizing solution, and electrical burns. The history, nature, and distribution, as well as experimental evide nce strongly support the hypothesis that these injuries are electrical due to capacitive coupled currents induced onto the sheath of the resectoscope, and/or stray currents generated by arcing or direct coupling from defectiv e electrode insulation to the telescope, electrifying the entire resectosco pe.