Cautery
Cautery
Cautery (/ˈkɔːtəri/), from the Latin cauterium, 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 unwanted growth, or minimize other potential medical harm, such as infections when antibiotics are unavailable.
History
The practice of cautery dates back to the Hippocratic era (460-370 BC), where it was used to stop bleeding, especially during amputations. The Romans also used cautery in their medical practices, as did the Arabs during the Golden Age of Islam.
Types of Cautery
There are several types of cautery, including:
- Electrocautery: This technique uses a direct or alternating current passed through an electrode which becomes hot enough to burn tissue.
- Thermal cautery: This involves the use of heat to treat the tissue. The heat can be applied directly or indirectly.
- Chemical cautery: This technique uses a chemical substance to burn the tissue.
Uses
Cautery is used in various medical procedures, including:
- Surgery: To stop bleeding and to burn and destroy abnormal growths.
- Dermatology: To remove warts, skin tags, and other skin lesions.
- Ophthalmology: To treat various eye conditions, such as trichiasis and entropion.
Risks and Complications
While cautery is a useful tool in many medical procedures, it is not without risks. These can include pain, infection, scarring, and damage to surrounding tissues. It is important that cautery is performed by a trained medical professional to minimize these risks.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cautery
- Wikipedia's article - Cautery
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