A cautery system comprising: a handpiece (112; 802), a gas lumen extending through the handpiece and an electrical unit provided within the handpiece, the electrical unit having a control circuit and a socket (148; 848); a cautery tip (108; 808) removably electrically coupled within the socket and extending distally from the handpiece, the cautery tip having a proximal portion (150; 850), a distal end (152; 852), and a hollow gas passage defined in at least the proximal portion of the cautery tip, wherein the electrical unit is configured to supply energy to the cautery tip, the cautery tip is adapted to at least one of cut and coagulate tissue; a carbon dioxide gas source (124; 516) connected to a gas supply connection and configured to supply carbon dioxide gas for delivery to the gas lumen, the gas lumen in fluid communication with the gas passage of the cautery tip so that carbon dioxide gas can flow through the gas passage of the cautery tip and toward the distal end of the cautery tip; at least one button (114, 116; 814, 816) coupled to the handpiece configured to actuate the electrical unit for selectively supplying energy to the cautery tip; and a single valve fluidly coupled between the cautery tip and the gas supply connection, the valve adapted to regulate a variable flow rate of the non-flammable carbon dioxide gas from the gas supply connection to the cautery tip, the valve coupled to the at least one button such that when the at least one button is displaced in a first direction, the valve moves from a closed position toward an open position such that non-flammable carbon dioxide gas is delivered at the cautery tip when the cautery tip is supplied electricity. a handpiece (112; 802), a gas lumen extending through the handpiece and an electrical unit provided within the handpiece, the electrical unit having a control circuit and a socket (148; 848); a cautery tip (108; 808) removably electrically coupled within the socket and extending distally from the handpiece, the cautery tip having a proximal portion (150; 850), a distal end (152; 852), and a hollow gas passage defined in at least the proximal portion of the cautery tip, wherein the electrical unit is configured to supply energy to the cautery tip, the cautery tip is adapted to at least one of cut and coagulate tissue; a carbon dioxide gas source (124; 516) connected to a gas supply connection and configured to supply carbon dioxide gas for delivery to the gas lumen, the gas lumen in fluid communication with the gas passage of the cautery tip so that carbon dioxide gas can flow through the gas passage of the cautery tip and toward the distal end of the cautery tip; at least one button (114, 116; 814, 816) coupled to the handpiece configured to actuate the electrical unit for selectively supplying energy to the cautery tip; and a single valve fluidly coupled between the cautery tip and the gas supply connection, the valve adapted to regulate a variable flow rate of the non-flammable carbon dioxide gas from the gas supply connection to the cautery tip, the valve coupled to the at least one button such that when the at least one button is displaced in a first direction, the valve moves from a closed position toward an open position such that non-flammable carbon dioxide gas is delivered at the cautery tip when the cautery tip is supplied electricity. <EOS>