Caracterização da deflagração da descarga eletrocirúrgica

Abstract

Electrosurgical spark is the phenomenon that rules the main effects of electrosurgery, cut and fulguration. Previous studies have shown evidences that electrosurgical sparkling generates important voltages and currents asymmetries, despite the presence of the dc protection capacitance at the patient circuit. Those asymmetries can lead to undesirable electrostimulation and dc burns. The present study has investigated the characteristics of the beginning of the spark, or the very moment of its breakdown, according to electrodes geometries, submilimetric gap distances, atmosphere temperature, pressure and humidity conditions, and electrodes materials. It was possible to notice a qualitative resemblance between the dc breakdown and the ac characteristics from previous studies. This association and peculiarities of the electrosurgical sparks and organic electrodes material influence are analyzed. Furthermore, characteristics such as alterations that can take place during sparkling processes due to changes in organic tissue when it gets dried are also presented and analyzed.