Erbe 10128-002, Instruction Manual

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3-6
WARNING!
Make certain during high-frequency surgical operations that anesthetics, skin cleaning agents
and disinfectants are nonflammable. If their use is unavoidable, they must have completely
evaporated and the vapor must be removed from the area of spark formation before switching on
the high-frequency surgical unit.
Before application of high-frequency surgery in the gastro-intestinal tract, it must be ensured
that no flammable (endogenous) gases are present here. There is danger of explosion if flammable
gases are present. For this reason, these gases must be extracted and/or eliminated by flushing
out the affected lumen with CO
2
before using high-frequency surgery.
During transurethral resection (TUR), H
2
O molecules may dissociate into H
2
and O
2
in the arc
between the resection loop and the irrigation liquid. These gases may collect on the roof of the
urinary bladder as a highly explosive gas mixture. If resection is performed in this gas mixture,
dangerous explosions may occur.
3.1.9 Unintentional burns due to hot electrodes
Cutting and/or coagulation electrodes become hot during cutting and/or coagulation procedures
indirectly through the heated tissue and through the electric arc.
WARNING!
Tissue can be unintentionally burnt immediately after cutting and/or coagulation procedures if
electrodes that are still hot touch the tissue. Attention must be especially paid to this during
endoscopic operations, such as during pelviscopic fallopian tube coagulation or during endoscopic
polypectomy.
3.2 Electric shock
An electric shock may occur if the high-frequency surgical unit delivers a too heavy low-frequency
current or if a too heavy low-frequency current flows through the patient into the high-frequency
surgical unit from another voltage source.
3.3 Stimulation of nerves and muscles
A known risk of high-frequency surgery is the unintentional electric stimulation of the patient’s
nerves and muscles. This stimulation can result from low-frequency electrical currents that are
caused either by low-frequency current sources or due to electrical arcs between an active electrode
and the patient’s tissue.
Electric alternating current with a frequency above 300 kHz is unable to stimulate nerves and
muscles.