Valleylab SurgiStat II-20, User Manual

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Safety
Introducing the SurgiS
ta
t
II
Electrosurgical Generator
SurgiStat II-20 User’s Guide 1 - 5
Use electrosurgery with caution in the presence of internal or external
pacemakers. Interference produced by the use of electrosurgical devices can
cause a pacemaker to enter an asynchronous mode or can block the pacemaker
effect entirely. Consult the pacemaker manufacturer or hospital Cardiology
Department for further information when use of electrosurgical appliances is
planned for patients with cardiac pacemakers.
If the patient has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), contact the ICD
manufacturer for instructions before performing an electrosurgical procedure.
Electrosurgery may cause multiple activation of ICDs.
Do not use electrosurgical equipment unless properly trained to use it in the
specific procedure being undertaken. Use by physicians without such training has
resulted in serious, unintended patient injury, including bowel perforation and
irreversible tissue necrosis.
For surgical procedures where the high frequency current could flow through
parts of the body having a relatively small cross-sectional area, the use of bipolar
techniques may be desirable to avoid unwanted coagulation.
In some circumstances, the potential exists for alternate site burns at points of
skin contact (e.g., between the arm and the side of the body). This occurs when
electrosurgical current seeks a path to the patient return electrode that includes
the skin-to-skin contact point. Current passing through small skin-to-skin contact
points is concentrated and may cause a burn. This is true for grounded, ground
referenced, and isolated output generators.
To reduce the potential for alternate site burns, do one or more of the following:
• Avoid skin-to-skin contact points, such as fingers touching leg, when
positioning the patient.
• Place 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in.) of dry gauze between contact points to ensure that
contact does not occur.
• Position the patient return electrode to provide a direct current route between
the surgical site and the return electrode that avoids skin-to-skin contact areas.
• In addition, place patient return electrodes according to the manufacturer’s
instructions.
Potential for alternate site burns increases if the return electrode is compromised.
Valleylab recommends the use of split-plate patient return electrodes and
Valleylab generators with a contact quality monitoring system.
Do not wrap the accessory cords or patient return electrode cords around metal
objects. This may induce currents that could lead to shocks, fires, or injury to the
patient or surgical team.
Warning