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BOVIE SPECIALIST ELECTROSURGICAL UNIT
3. Safety & Precautions
GENERAL PRECAUTIONS
SAFETY & PRECAUTIONS
Certain general precautions are neces-
sary in the use of any electrosurgical unit.
Read and observe them carefully.
The BOVIE Specialist Electrosurgical unit
is sold only for use by qualified physicians
and surgeons. The observance of safe
and establishedmedicalpractices is essen-
tial to its proper use, otherwise, there are
possibilities of injury to patients or oper-
ators.
1.
Operator and patient safety are of prime impor-
tance in electrosurgical applications. Due to the
necessity of high voltages in any electrosurgi-
cal instrument, added precautions have been
taken in the BOVIE Specialist.
2.
I n bi-terminal techniques, proper application of
the dispersive plate with conductive gel usually
will require less power for good clinical results.
3.
The active cable, regardless of accessory used,
should NOT be coiled, but let droop away from
the patient and operator and preferably away
from large metal masses.
--
The safe and effective use of elecfro-
surgery is dependent, to a large extent,
upon factors under the control of the
operator and not entirely controllable by
the design of this equipment. I t is impera-
tive that the instructions supplied with this equipment be
read, understood and followed in order that safety and
effectiveness be enhanced.
ANESTHETIC
The use of an electrosurgical apparatus imposes
some limitations on the type of anesthetics which
can be safely used. Choice of anesthesia should be
made with full consideration of the danger of using
electrical sparks in the presence of explosive gases.
The best rule is to avoid all flammable anesthetics;
and it should be'recognized that many commonly
used inhalant anesthetics are flammable
-
espe-
cially so when used with oxygen.
With present-day techniques of administering
spinal, intramuscular, oral and rectal anesthetics,
the surgeon or anesthesiologist has a wide choice
from which to select an appropriate anesthesia for
any electrosurgical procedure.
Useof local anesthetic may require an increase
i n power if the operating field contains a heavy fluid
content of injectable anesthetic. It is generally bet-
ter to inject an anesthetic a little distance from the
lesion itself, allowing it to serve more as a block
anesthesia rather than injecting directly under the
lesion.
PREVENTION OF BURNS
Accidental Ignition of Flammable Fluids
When a flammable fluid, such as alcohol or
ether, is used to cleanse the field preparatory to
surgery, it is well to remember that there is a possi-
bility of igniting any gas or residual liquid by a spark
from the electrode. When flammable fluids or sol-
vents are used, allow sufficient time for complete
evaporation and be sure that drapes, dressings,
coverings, clothing, etc., surrounding the field are
not saturated with the liquid.
Accidental Ignition of Flammable Gases
The risk of ignition of flammable gases or other
materials is an in herent hazard in the use of Electro-
surgery which cannot be entirely eliminated by
device design. Precautions must be taken by the
user to restrict flammable gases and liquids
-
whether from anesthetic or skin preparation agents,
or present in surgical drapes.
Disposable anesthesia hoses are conductive
and will burn if touched by an active electrode.
Avoidance of Internal Body Gases
Another precaution which must be observed is
the avoidance of any flammable gases within the
body. This is especially true in body cavities. I t
should also be kept in mind that colonic gases are
flammableand should bedispersed with nitrogen or
carbon dioxide before applying energy in the colon.
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