We design, develop, manufacture and
market innovative, best of class surgical devices that
allow surgeons to optimize technique and patient safety
during a broad range of surgical procedures. We believe
that our active electrode monitoring technology
is changing the marketplace for electrosurgical devices
and laparoscopic instruments by providing a solution
to patient risk in laparoscopic electrosurgery.
Why Bad Things Happen to Good People During Laparoscopy Surgery
Presented by George Vilos, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
3rd International Meeting, Athens, Greece – May 2010
Laparoscopic Complications: Prevention and if things go wrong what next?
"During monopolar electrosurgery, visceral burns may occur by inadvertent direct coupling, capacitive coupling or insulation failure of instruments.
These dangers become particularly important with the use of monopolar electrosurgery during procedures using the da Vinci robotic technology, single-port laparoscopy,
as well as, NOTES technologies all of which result in close proximity and crossing of multiple instruments within the abdomen.
The inherent risks of monopolar electrosurgery may be eliminated by understanding and respecting electrosurgery, the use of alternative sources of energy such as bipolar RF,
harmonics, lasers, etc or the application of technologies that safely divert/eliminate stray energy such as the active electrode monitoring system."
An
article in the Journal of Healthcare Risk
Management stated that physicians and hospitals
might be deemed liable
for stray energy burns
by virtue of the failure to use or obtain certain
available safety equipment, given the known risks
for thermal injury caused by stray energy released
during laparoscopic electrosurgery.
"Trends
in Laparoscopic Electrosurgery"
Wendy K. Winer, RN, BSN, CNOR
Assia A. Stepanion, MD Perioperative Nursing Clinics 2 (2007) 145-154
