Electrosurgery is used in the majority of endoscopic therapeutic procedures. An understanding
of the fundamental electrosurgical principles and various settings available on electrosurgical
units is essential for the safe and effective use of electrosurgery during endoscopy.
The aims of these technical guidelines are to: (1) expose physical principles relevant
to the understanding of electrosurgery during endoscopy; (2) describe and provide
practical recommendations regarding electrosurgical units that are commonly in use;
(3) discuss the clinical relevance of technologies recently implemented in newer electrosurgical
units; and (4) review factors relevant to commonly performed therapeutic procedures,
including polypectomy, sphincterotomy, contact thermal hemostasis, and argon plasma
coagulation.
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J. M. DumonceauMD, PhD
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Geneva University Hospitals
Micheli-du-Crest Street 24
1205 Geneva
Switzerland
Fax: +41-22-3729366
Email: jmdumonceau@hotmail.com
