Prevention of patient burns during Electrosurgery

ABSTRACT Background:- Electrosurgery is an important part of the modern surgical technique which is widely used in the operation theatre for cutting of tissues and stopping bleeding during surgical procedures. Although it has many advantages, improper use of Electrosurgery may result in thermal injuries and patient burns. Factors including incorrect return electrode placement , inadequate skin contact , improper equipment handling, damaged cables and not properly following safety precautions can increase the risk of burns . Correct knowledge and safe practices among Operation theatre technicians are important for preventing electrosurgical burns and thermal injuries and maintaining patient safety. Material and methods A descriptive cross sectional design was used for this study. The main purpose of the study was to check the knowledge and practices regarding the prevention of patient burns during Electrosurgery among OT Students and OT Technicians. There were 70 OT Students in total. From these students , 25 students were selected for the study by using a convenience sampling method. The study checks their knowledge about electrosurgical unit , causes of patient burns , return electrode placement , poor skin contact, high level electric current continuously used , equipment safety and preventive actions during Electrosurgery. The selected were given a structured questionnaire to check their knowledge about prevention of Patient Burns During Electrosurgery . Practice assessment checklist was used to observe the safety practices followed during the use of electrosurgical equipment. Result Among the 25 selected students, 9students ( 36 %) had good knowledge about electrosurgical unit,12 students(48%) had moderately knowledge, 4 students (16%) had poor knowledge. Conclusion The study found that the selected OT students and Operation Theatre Technicians had different levels of knowledge regarding the prevention of patient burns during electrosurgery . Students with good knowledge had better understanding of ESU safety , causes of burns , proper return electrode placement , proper skin contact , equipment safety and preventive actions. Students with moderate and poor knowledge need additional improvement in their knowledge and practical skills. More practical training and educational programmes can help OT students and technicians learn the correct use and safety precautions of ESU . Close attention to return electrode placement , skin preparation , equipment check-in and safe handling of ESU can help to reduce the risk of patient burns and enhance patient safety during Electrosurgery.