Electrocautery

Question 1

Which uses direct current, electrocautery or electrosurgery?

Answer 1

Electrocautery

Question 2

Which uses alternating current, electrocautery or electrosurgery?

Answer 2

Electrosurgery

Question 3

In which does the current enter the patient’s body, electrocautery or electrosurgery?

Answer 3

Electrosurgery

Question 4

In which is the patient included in the circuit, electrocautery or electrosurgery?

Answer 4

Electrosurgery

Question 5

True or False: During electrocautery, current does NOT enter the patient’s body.

Answer 5

TRUE

Question 6

What are the 4 pieces of a circuit in electrosurgery?

Answer 6

1. Generator
2. Active electrode
3. Patient
4. Grounding pad

Question 7

What provides the impedance in electrosurgery?

Answer 7

Patient’s tissue

Question 8

What are the 2 types of electrosurgical units?

Answer 8

1. Monopolar

2. Bipolar

Question 9

Explain a monopolar ESU…

Answer 9

Electrical energy flows from the generator to the active electrode.

The energy then passes through the patient to a grounding pad, completing the electrical circuit.

Question 10

Explain a bipolar ESU…

Answer 10

Uses 2-tined bipolar forceps.

One tine of the forceps serves as the active electrode, and the other tine serves as the return electrode.

The electrical current is confined to the tissue between the tines of the bipolar forceps.

Question 11

Burn = (____ x time) / ____

Answer 11

Burn = (CURRENT x time) / AREA

Question 12

Electric current travels easiest through __1__ and __2__.

Answer 12

1. Muscle

2. Vascular tissue

Question 13

Electric current does NOT travel well through ___, ___, or ___ tissue.

Answer 13

Bone, scar, or adipose

Question 14

Which of the following is of the highest voltage: pure cut or coagulation?

Answer 14

Coagulation

Question 15

Which of the following is associated with a continuous wave form: pure cut or coagulation?

Answer 15

Pure cut

Question 16

Which of the following is fully filtered: pure cut or coagulation?

Answer 16

Pure cut

Question 17

Which of the following is fully rectified: blend 1 or coagulation?

Answer 17

Blend 1

Question 18

Which of the following is partially rectified: pure cut, blend 1, or coagulation?

Answer 18

Coagulation

Question 19

Low duty = high or low heat?

Answer 19

Low duty = low heat

Question 20

As you go from blend 1 to blend 3 the duty cycle is increased or decreased?

Answer 20

Decreased

Question 21

Which produces the greater amount of heat, blend 1 or blend 3?

Answer 21

Blend 1

Question 22

What type of waveform does coagulation produce? Does this produce high heat or low heat?

Answer 22

Intermittent, interrupted waveform = less heat

Question 23

The slower the passage of the electrode, the ____ the lateral heat.

Answer 23

Greater

Question 24

The more rapid the passage of the electrode, the ____ the lateral heat.

Answer 24

Less

Question 25

Tissue should be incised at a minimum rate of ____ mm/second.

Answer 25

7 mm/second

Question 26

Too high intensity –> ___ accumulation of lateral heat.

Answer 26

High

Question 27

Too low intensity –> ___ accumulation of lateral heat.

Answer 27

High

Question 28

The larger the electrode, the ___ the power setting necessary to operate.

Answer 28

Higher

Question 29

The smaller the electrode, the ___ the power setting necessary to operate.

Answer 29

Smaller

Question 30

A tissue sealing ligature can fuse bundles, lymphatics, and vessels up to ___ mm in diameter.

Answer 30

7 mm

Question 31

True or False: When using a tissue sealing ligature, sutures and ligation devices are still necessary.

Answer 31

FALSE