Cauterization - wikipedia Cauterization `` Cauterize '' redirects here. For the band, see Cauterize ( band ). For the album, see Cauterize ( album ). Cauterization ( or cauterisation, or cautery ) is a medical practice or technique of burning a part of a body to remove or close off a part of it. It destroys some tissue in an attempt to mitigate bleeding and damage, remove an undesired growth, or minimize other potential medical harm, such as infections when antibiotics are unavailable. The practice was once widespread for treatment of wounds. Its utility before the advent of antibiotics was said to be effective at more than one level : To prevent exsanguination To close amputations Cautery was historically believed to prevent infection, but current research shows that cautery actually increases the risk for infection by causing more tissue damage and providing a more hospitable environment for bacterial growth. Actual cautery refers to the metal device, generally heated to a dull red glow, that a physician applies to produce blisters, to stop bleeding of a blood vessel, and for other similar purposes. The main forms of cauterization used today in the first world are electrocautery and chemical cautery -- both are, for example, prevalent in the removal of unsightly warts. Cautery can also mean the branding of a human, either recreational or forced. Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Electrocautery 3.1 Unipolar 3.2 Bipolar 4 Chemical cautery 5 Nasal cauterization 6 Amputational cauterization 7 Infant circumcision 8 See also 9 References and notes 10 External links Etymology c. 1400, from Old French cauteriser, from Late Latin cauterizare `` to burn or brand with a hot iron '', from Greek καυτηριάζειν > kauteriazein, from καυτήρ, kauter, `` burning or branding iron '', and καίω, `` I burn '' ( cf caustic ). History Hot cauters were applied to tissues or arteries to stop them from bleeding. Cauterization was used to stop heavy bleeding, especially during amputation. The procedure was simple : a piece of metal was heated over fire and applied to the wound. This caused tissues and blood to heat rapidly to extreme temperatures, causing coagulation of the blood and thus controlling the bleeding, at the cost of extensive tissue damage. Cauterization was a common treatment in the Middle Ages, sometimes unintentionally as with Saint Hubert 's Key. Cautery is described in the Hippocratic Corpus. Abu Al - Qasim Al - Zahrawi developed techniques and instruments for cauterization and described them in his book Al - Tasrif and these continued to influence medical world for five centuries. The cautery was employed for almost every possible purpose in ancient times : as a counter-irritant, as a haemostatic, as a bloodless knife, as a means of destroying tumours, etc. Later, special medical instruments called cauters were used to cauterize arteries. The technique of ligature of the arteries as an alternative to cauterization was later improved and used more effectively by Ambroise Paré. Electrocautery Electrocauter Not to be confused with Electrosurgery. Electrocauterization is the process of destroying tissue ( or cutting through soft tissue ) using heat conduction from a metal probe heated by electric current. The procedure stops bleeding from small vessels ( larger vessels being ligated ). Electrocautery applies high frequency alternating current by a unipolar or bipolar method. It can be a continuous waveform to cut tissue, or intermittent to coagulate tissue. Unipolar In unipolar cauterization, the physician contacts the tissue with a single small electrode. The circuit 's exit point is a large surface area, such as the buttocks, to prevent electrical burns. The amount of heat generated depends on size of contact area, power setting or frequency of current, duration of application, and waveform. Constant waveform generates more heat than intermittent. Frequency used in cutting the tissue is higher than in coagulation mode. Bipolar Bipolar electrocautery passes the current between two tips of a forceps - like tool. It has the advantage of not disturbing other electrical body rhythms ( such as the heart ) and also coagulates tissue by pressure. Lateral thermal injury is greater in unipolar than bipolar devices. Electrocauterization is preferable to chemical cauterization, because chemicals can leach into neighbouring tissue and cauterize outside of intended boundaries. Concern has also been raised regarding toxicity of the surgical smoke electrocautery produces. This contains chemicals that, through inhalation, may harm patients or medical staff. Ultrasonic coagulation and ablation systems are also available. Chemical cautery Many chemical reactions can destroy tissue, and some are used routinely in medicine, most commonly to remove small skin lesions such as warts or necrotized tissue, or for hemostasis. Because chemicals can leach into areas not intended for cauterization, laser and electrical methods are preferable where practical. Some cauterizing agents are : Silver nitrate is the active ingredient of the lunar caustic, a stick that traditionally looks like a large match. It is dipped in water and pressed onto the lesion for a few moments. Trichloroacetic acid Cantharidin is an extract of the blister beetle that causes epidermal necrosis and blistering. It is used to treat warts. Nasal cauterization Frequent nose bleeds are most likely caused by an exposed blood vessel in the nose, usually one in Kiesselbach 's plexus. Even if the nose is not bleeding at the time, a physician may cauterize it to prevent future bleeding. Cauterization methods include burning the affected area with acid, hot metal, or lasers. Such a procedure is naturally quite painful. Sometimes, a physician uses liquid nitrogen as a less painful alternative, though it is less effective. A physician may apply cocaine in the few countries that allow it for medical use. Cocaine is the only local anesthetic that also produces vasoconstriction, making it ideal for controlling nosebleeds. More modern treatment applies silver nitrate after a local anesthetic. The procedure is generally painless, but after the anesthetic wears off, there may be pain for several days, and the nose may run for up to a week after this treatment. Amputational cauterization Countries that practice amputation as part of their penal code may use cauterization to prevent death from severe loss of blood. Infant circumcision Cauterization has been used for the circumcision of infants in the United States and Canada. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba advises against its use in neonatal circumcision. This method of circumcision resulted in several infants having their penises missed, with at least seven male children being reassigned as female. See also Cryosurgery Diathermy Singe References and notes Jump up ^ `` Dictionary definition, retrieved : 2009 - 03 - 07 ''. Jump up ^ Soballe, Peter W ; Nimbkar, Narayan V ; Hayward, Isaac ; Nielsen, Thor B ; Drucker, William R ( 1998 ). `` Electric Cautery Lowers the Contamination Threshold for Infection of Laparotomies ''. The American Journal of Surgery. 175 ( 4 ) : 263 -- 6. doi : 10.1016 / S0002 - 9610 ( 98 ) 00020 - 8. PMID 9568648. Jump up ^ Robinson, Victor, ed. ( 1939 ). `` Actual cautery ''. The Modern Home Physician, A New Encyclopedia of Medical Knowledge. WM. H. Wise & Company ( New York )., page 16. Jump up ^ The Presocratic Influence upon Hippocratic Medicine Jump up ^ Surgical Instruments from Ancient Rome Jump up ^ Sabiston textbook of surgery ( 19th ed. ). 2012. p. 235. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4377 - 1560 - 6. Jump up ^ See Mr. R. McElroy for details of various operations and the unintended effects of chemical cauterization Jump up ^ Fitzgerald, J. Edward F. ; Malik, Momin ; Ahmed, Irfan ( 2011 ). `` A single - blind controlled study of electrocautery and ultrasonic scalpel smoke plumes in laparoscopic surgery ''. Surgical Endoscopy. 26 ( 2 ) : 337 -- 42. doi : 10.1007 / s00464 - 011 - 1872 - 1. PMID 21898022. Jump up ^ `` 3.08 Epistaxis ( Nosebleed ) ''. ncemi.org. Jump up ^ College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba. Neonatal Circumcision. Winnipeg : College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, 1997. Jump up ^ `` Family Is Awarded $850,000 For Circumcision Accident '' The New York Times, New York, USA, Published November 2, 1975 Jump up ^ `` David Reimer, 38, Subject of the John / Joan Case '' The New York Times, New York, USA, Published May 12, 2004 Jump up ^ Charles Seabrook. $22.8 million in botched circumcision. Atlanta Constitution, Tuesday, March 12, 1991. Jump up ^ Schmidt, William E ( October 8, 1985 ). `` A Circumcision Method Draws New Concern ''. The New York Times. Jump up ^ Vincent Lupo. Family gets $2.75 million in wrongful surgery suit. Lake Charles American Press, Wednesday, May 28, 1986. Jump up ^ Gearhart, JP ; Rock, JA ( 1989 ). `` Total ablation of the penis after circumcision with electrocautery : A method of management and long - term followup ''. The Journal of Urology. 142 ( 3 ) : 799 -- 801. doi : 10.1016 / S0022 - 5347 ( 17 ) 38893 - 6. PMID 2769863. External links Valleylab division of Covidien ( no longer part of Tyco Healthcare ), explaining the basics of electrosurgery Examples of Cauterizing the Wound in Cinema - Daily Film Dose Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cauterization&oldid=811649444 '' Categories : History of hematology Medical treatments Surgery Hidden categories : All pages needing factual verification Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from May 2013 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from November 2017 Articles needing more detailed references Articles with unsourced statements from September 2016 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Čeština Deutsch Español Esperanto فارسی Français Gaeilge 한국어 Հայերեն Ido Italiano मराठी Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Suomi Svenska Tagalog 12 more Edit links This page was last edited on 23 November 2017, at 00 : 42. 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Question: when do you need to cauterize a wound
Answer: mitigate bleeding and damage