DIATHERMY - PART 1

Monday, June 8, 2020

DIATHERMY - PART 1

Hi friends!!!

Diathermy plays a important role in electro surgical techniques. Therefore it is important for every healthcare professional to know in detail about diathermy.

Let’s get into the topic.

WHY DIATHERMY?

Diathermy is used for various electro surgery techniques like Fulguration, Desiccation, Electrosurgical Cutting, Coagulation.

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WHAT IS THE TECHNIQUE USED?

Diathermy machine depends upon the heating effect of the electric current. It uses high frequency electric current in the range of 1- 3 MHz to produce heat deep inside a targeted tissue. This frequency is quite high when compared to 50 Hz mains supply. High frequency is used to avoid intense muscle activity and electrocution hazards which might occur if lower frequencies are used. It can reach areas as deep as two inches beneath the skin surface.

ELECTROSURGICAL CUTTING

Electrosurgical cutting divides the tissue with electric sparks that focus intense heat at the surgical site. To create this spark surgeon should hold the electrode slightly away from the tissue.

It produces high amount of current over a short period of time, resulting in vapourization and exploding of tissue. Here continuous flow of current with more ON time is used, it is called as CUTTING CURRENT.

COAGULATION

Coagulation is caused by high frequency electric current flowing through the tissue and heating it locally so that it coagulates from the inside.

Local heating is caused using the electrode touching the skin surface by interrupted current (less ON time). This process is accompanied by grayish white discoloration of tissue at the edge of the electrode.

FULGURATION

Fulguration means sparking with the electrode held slightly away from the tissue using the intermittent current (less ON time) causes superficial tissue destruction without affecting deep seated tissues.

When a electrode is held near a tissue without touching it, an electric arc is produced, whose heat dries out the tissue.

DESICCATION

In desiccation, pointed needle electrodes are stuck into the tissue and kept steady. Depending upon the intensity and duration of the current, a high local increase in heat happens. Here cutting current (more ON time) is used.

By touching the tissue with the electrode, the current concentration is reduced. Less heat is generated and no cutting action occurs. The tissue changes due to drying and limited coagulation.