Electricity in Interventive Endoscopy

Abstract

Electricity is the most popular form of power used in Interventive Endoscopy. The electrosurgical generators, or diathermies as they are more widely known, produce highfrequency alternating current, which is transferred through special instruments (loops, forceps, sphincterotomes, etc) to the tissue, causing the excitation of molecules, which leads to the production of heat. Many different terms are used to make reference to diathermy, such as monopolar-bipolar, cutting-haemostasis current, etc, whose understanding is vital to take full advantage of the devices' capacities, with safety (Fig 1).