Electrosurgery

Abstract

Electrocautery (EC) and argon plasma coagulation (APC) use electrons to coagulate tissue. Proper tissue heating to acquire sufficient coagulation lessens the risk of profuse hemorrhage before performing mechanical tissue debulking. Equipment setup is easy, making it practical for emergency use. The effect of tissue coagulation is clearly visible for the bronchoscopist.The availability of various reusable probes for both the rigid and flexible bronchoscopes – either in using the contact or noncontact mode – provides practical alternatives for intraluminal tumor debulking in the daily routine of a bronchoscopy practice.The use of various bronchoscopic instruments for immediate tumor debulking and curative treatment of early lung cancer or benign lesions is an obvious example of advances in minimally invasive bronchoscopic techniques.