Cautions - Bovie SPECIALIST PRO User Manual

being undertaken. Use by physicians without such training has resulted in serious, unintended
patient injury, including bowel perforation and unintended, irreversible tissue necrosis.
For surgical procedures where the high frequency current could flow through parts of the body
having a relatively small cross-sectional area, the use of bipolar techniques may be desirable to
avoid unwanted coagulation.
In some circumstances, potential exists for alternate site burns at points of skin contact
(e.g., between the arm and the side of the body). This occurs when electrosurgical current
seeks a path to the patient return electrode that includes the skin-to-skin contact point.
Current passing through small skin-to-skin contact points is concentrated and may cause
a burn. This is true for grounded, ground referenced, and isolated output generators.
To reduce the potential for alternate site burns, do one or more of the following:
• Avoid skin-to-skin contact points, such as fingers touching leg, when positioning the patient.
• Place 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in.) of dry gauze between contact points to ensure that contact does
not occur.
• Position the patient return electrode to provide a direct current route between the surgical
site and the return electrode which avoids skin-to-skin contact areas.
• In addition, place patient return electrodes according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Potential for alternate site burns increases if the return electrode is compromised.
Do not wrap the accessory cords or patient return electrode cords around metal objects. This
may induce currents that could lead to shocks, fires, or injury to the patient or surgical team.
Minor neuromuscular stimulation is possible when arcs between the ACTIVE ELECTRODE and
tissue occur. The generator has been designed to minimize the possibility of neuromuscular
stimulation.
Accessories must be connected to the proper receptacle type. In particular, bipolar accessories
must be connected to the Bipolar Instrument output jack only. Improper connection may result in
inadvertent generator activation.
The use of flammable anesthetics or oxidizing gases such as nitrous oxide (N
should be avoided if a surgical procedure is carried out in the region of the thorax or the head,
unless these agents are sucked away.
Non-flammable agents should be used for cleaning and disinfection wherever possible.
Flammable agents used for cleaning or disinfecting, or as solvents of adhesives, should be
allowed to evaporate before the application if HF surgery. There is a risk of pooling flammable
solutions under the patient or in body depressions such as the umbilicus, and in body cavities
such as the vagina. Any fluids pooled in these areas should be mopped up before HF surgical
equipment is used. Attention should be called to the danger of ignition of endogenous gases.
Some materials, for example cotton, wool and gauze, when saturated with oxygen may be ignited
by sparks produced in Normal Use of the HF surgical equipment.
The generator is equipped with a return electrode sensing and contact quality monitoring system
(NEM), which monitors the quality of the patient return electrode connection. When a correctly
functioning single plate return electrode is connected to the generator, the NEM (contact quality
monitor) verifies the connections between the generator and the single return electrode. It DOES
NOT verify that a single return electrode is in contact with the patient. When using a split return
electrode, the NEM (contact quality monitor) confirms the total resistance is within the preset safe-
ty range. Proper application (such as hydrating the patient's skin) and visual inspection of the
patient return electrode is required for safe operation.

CAUTIONS

At no time should you touch the active electrode or bipolar forceps. A burn could result.
Do not stack equipment on top of the generator or place the generator on top of electrical
equipment. These configurations are unstable and/or do not allow adequate cooling.
Provide as much distance as possible between the electrosurgical generator and other electronic
equipment (such as monitors). An activated electrosurgical generator may cause interference
with them.
Nonfunction of the generator may cause interruption of surgery. A backup generator should be
User's Guide • Specialist | PRO
0) and oxygen
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