WEM SS-200E Manual De Utilización página 47

Desiccation
Desiccation is technically the simplest of those surgical effects, because any cut or coagulation waveform
may be used and require only lower power levels. It consists of non-sparking coagulation. Electric current
goes through and warms the tissue, thus slowly removing the water contained therein. As desiccation must
be performed when the active electrode maintains a good electric contact with the tissue, it is important
that the electrode is kept free of any dry or carbonized tissue. It can be made by using monopolar or bipolar
outlet, however bipolar outlet is optimized for desiccation and produces no cut or fulguration. Even at high
power levels, possibility of cut or fulguration is very low when bipolar outlet is used.
Monopolar outlet is designed, at first, for cut and fulguration. When it is used for desiccation, low power
levels must be used to allow a minimum effect of cut or coagulation. SS-200E can perform desiccation with
any type of waveform (CUT, BLEND, SPRAY or CONTACT). The exact power level depends on the surface
area of the active electrode, as the larger the contact area, more current will be necessary to produce the
same current density. Coagulation by bipolar forceps is a practical example of desiccation. Desiccation also
occurs when the surgeon uses monopolar haemostatic forceps to pinch a blood vessel and stop a blood
flow. Waveforms are only important for cut and fulguration, as seen below.
To prepare SS-200E to perform Desiccation, see item 3.5 of this Manual.
 Low-power, non-sparking coagulation
 Electrode with good contact with tissue
 Deep radially spreading coagulation
 Relatively soft light brown eschar
 Typical current = 0.5 Amp RMS
Electrosurgical Cut
It consists of warming the tissue cells so fast that they are exploded by steam produced internally. That
process is also known as cellular vaporization. Generated heat is dissipated by steam without any transfer
to adjacent cells. When the electrode is displaced and makes contact with new tissue cells, they explode
and produce incision. It is important to remember that electrosurgical cut is obtained from tissue sparking.
The cut waveform of SS-200E is a continuous sine wave at its working frequency (480 kHz).
To prepare SS-200E to perform cut, see item 3.5 of this Manual.
 Electrode separated from tissue by a thin steam layer
 Short and intense sparks vaporize the cells
 Small haemostasis
 Typical current = 0.1 Amp RMS
Fulguration
It consists of electrode sparking to tissue having a minimum cut effect. Fulguration allows the coagulation
of strong bleeds. Coagulation outlet in SS-200E is optimized to produce fulguration. Coagulation waveform
consists of sine wave packets of short-duration radiofrequency. Sine wave frequency is 480 KHz and
packets occur at a frequency of approximately 60 KHz (60,000 times per second). The most important
characteristic of fulguration waveform is the pause between each packet.
WEM / SS-200E User Manual
Rev. 11
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