Energy Devices

Electrosurgery—Laser—Harmonic Scalpel

Energy-releasing devices have been used in the past and currently are used in pelvic surgery. The raison d’être for such tools consists of hemostasis and speed.

Compared with cold knife or scissor cutting, energy devices create a greater degree of surrounding tissue damage, usually in the form of thermal injury leading to necrosis, devitalization, subsequent fibrosis, and scar formation. Because of the aforesaid events, tissues neighboring the operative site are vulnerable to injury by a variety of mechanisms. The surgeon, his or her assistants, and supporting nursing staff must be fully acquainted with these devices and with the mechanisms by which each device produces desired and undesired actions. The aforesaid exercise is intended to protect a patient from unintended injury.