Measurement of Local Heat Generation and Effects of Irrigation during Electrical Coagulation Using Bipolar Diathermy Forceps

Abstract

We measured the local heat generation induced by electrical coagulation with bipolar diathermy forceps using thermography, and evaluated the effects of different irrigation materials on the local temperature. The heat spreads like concentric circles to the tissue surrounding the tips of the bipolar diathermy forceps. The maximum temperature generally increased with bipolar output power; however, it varied depending on the moisture of local tissue and the contact area between the tip and tissue. With irrigation of saline, the increased tissue temperature induced by electrical coagulation at low output power decreased to normal temperature. However, irrigation of saline spreads the heat to surrounding area when tissue was coagulated at moderate to high output power, due to boiling of saline, an ionic solution, induced by current passage. On the contrary, isotonic mannitol, a nonionic solution, cooled the increased temperature to normal temperature at any Output power.