Each day, countless research are being made in search for the next scientific breakthroughs. All people put their hope on these breakthroughs, especially when a breakthrough is about cancer. Cancer has been one of the most deadly diseases in the world. Having a cure that will finally serve as the answer for cancer has been the world’s perennial quest. A lot of medical organizations and the rest of the medical community continue to test possible ways. In fact, in the early 1920s, William T. Bovie developed the what could have been known the first electrosurgical device. This made way for the surgery that is called Electrosurgery.
Background
Electrosurgery through the years has been known to many as the use of electricity in causing thermal destruction of abnormally formed tissues in the body through dehydration, coagulation, or vaporization. Moreover, this is the procedure wherein electric current is being utilized in cutting, removing, or even destroying tissue as well as controlling bleeding. This is one of the most promising procedures in oncology. Electrosurgery has two types: high-frequency electrosurgery and electrocautery. With high-frequency electrosurgery, this type of electrosurgery refers to electrocoagulation, electrofulguration, and electrosection. All of those aforementioned methods deal with high-frequency alternating current that is then converted to heat as it passes through the targeted tissue. On the other hand, electrocautery is more of transferring directly the heat to the targeted tissue. Electrosurgery is commonly used in treating mouth and skin cancers and even uterus tumor.
Oncology
As mentioned above, one can choose between high-frequency electrosurgery and electrocautery. Going in depth, high-frequency electrosurgery works by using electrical current and make it pass through the body tissue so as to create the desired clinical effect. Occurring biological in nature, once the current is converted into heat, the tissue will have thermal damage. It is important to note that there should be a sufficient amount of frequency to avoid causing muscle contraction. With inappropriate amount of frequency, it can stop the heart from beating. Contrarily, instead of merely causing heat through electrical current, electrocautery involves the usage of a handheld element to apply the heat directly to the affected area. Other modalities that can be combined are electrosurgery such as scalpel, scissors, and curette. In combining these, a specimen can be preserved for histopathological examination and this can also have better hold into the coverage of destruction.
Advantages and Risks
As per research, electrosurgery offers less operating time and limited bleeding, which is advantageous to patients. Compared to laser surgery, this procedure is also much cheaper. A less post-operative time for recovery can also be expected. Recurrence rates are reported to be as low as 1.6% at a VA hospital in a prospective cohort study of 93 patients. Meanwhile, 5.7 to 18.8% is reported in a structured review. Unfortunately, because of the utilization of electric currents, electric shocks can be a risk when there is no grounding pad and if the current is being randomly sent to any part of the body. Burns can also be evident. In order to prevent burns, the skin must be cleaned and then a conductive gel should be used to enhance the contact with the return electrode. All in all, to avoid any unwanted side-effects, proper handling of equipment and precise way of executing should always be achieved.
In testing for a safe and reliable patient contact with return electrode, an electrosurgical unit should be used. One of the most dynamic cervical cancer organizations of the world, Liger Medical Global offers medical devices that are sure helpful to all cancer patients, especially those that are undergoing electrosurgery and those who are looking for treatments for cervical cancer. With products duly recognized by the World Health Organization, Liger Medical Global is paving the way on providing everyone product lines in aiding emerging and existent medical demands.
We have come a long way with regard to our longstanding battle with cancer in its worst forms. Although there is still a long way to go, each day we can witness signs that someday we will finally arrive in our destination—the cure. Electrosurgery is a breakthrough and is still continuously being modified as evident in varied scientific journals studying its efficacy. Someday the battle will be won. Someday cancer will be defeated.
