There is many procedure cautery treatment. This term is often considered similar to laser, but it is different.For more details,see the following reviews.
The term cautery (cautery) comes from the Latin, which means clumping or destruction of tissue. Cautery procedures have actually been done since several years BC, to cut or destroy body tissue, and stop bleeding.
In ancient times, cautery was performed using a hot object, such as metal heated with coals or certain chemicals. Today, cautery is performed with electric power (electrocautery).
Work mechanism Cauter in the Medical Field
On electrocautery, electric current flows through the electrode wire which has a high resistance. These electrodes will generate heat that can be attached to body tissues. In the medical field, electrical cautery is commonly used to:
- Minor surgery on the skin, such as removing warts, skin tags, seborrheic keratoses, molluscum contagiosum, and syringoma.
- Drain network (electrodessication).
- blood clots (electrocoagulation).
- Bypass network (eelectrosection). For example, to remove tumors, such as Kaposi's sarcoma.
- As a method for laser circumcision.
In addition to electric power, cautery can also be carried out with silver nitrate chemicals. Cauter with silver nitrate is usually used to treat canker sores or nosebleeds.
Not only silver nitrate, the chemical trichloroacetic acid can also be used for cautery procedures, namely to treat xanthelasma and a ruptured eardrum.
Cautery Is Not The Same As Laser
Many people mistakenly say that circumcision or treatment of small nodules on the face and neck is done with a laser, when in fact what is used is cautery. In medical use, cautery and laser do have some similarities, but the working principle is different.
Laser stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, namely rays that are focused on one point, have a certain wavelength, and have high intensity.
Laser light is quite powerful and can be used to cut, burn, or damage body tissue. This beam has a high accuracy, so it can handle certain tissues without damaging the surrounding tissue.
In the medical world, laser light is usually used to:
- Certain cosmetic surgical procedures or procedures, such as plastic surgery, removing tattoos, scars, stretch marks, wrinkles, birthmarks, moles, and solar keratosis or actinic keratosis.
- Remove body hair.
- Medical procedures on the eye, such as LASIK, cataract surgery, and surgery for corneal and retinal disorders.
- Dental procedures, such as teeth whitening and oral surgery.
- Treat varicose veins and stop bleeding.
- Major surgery, such as removal of tumors, kidney stones, to enlargement of breast tissue and prostate.
- Treating nerve disorders that cause postoperative pain.
- Kills tumor or cancer cells in certain parts of the body.
So, the basic difference between cautery and laser is in how they work. In addition, the tissue side effects caused by cautery are greater than those of lasers.
If you are going to undergo a procedure that uses cautery or laser light, you should first ask your doctor clearly about how the device works, benefits, and risks.
Written by:
dr. Michael Kevin Robby Setyana
