Product Manual

Warnings and Precautions for
Patient and Operating Room
Safety
Valleylab FT10 Energy Platform User’s Guide 2-11
Warnings and Precautions for Monopolar Procedures
Inadvertent Radio Frequency (RF) Burns
Important
A statement of compatibility from the CQM patient return electrode manufacturer should be
obtained prior to the use of a non-Covidien CQM patient return electrode.
A patient return electrode is not necessary in bipolar or LigaSure procedures.
Warning
Electrodes and probes used with monitoring, stimulation, and imaging devices (or similar
equipment) can provide a path for high frequency current even if the electrodes or probes are
isolated at 50 –60 Hz, insulated, and/or battery operated.
Do not use needles as monitoring electrodes during electrosurgical procedures. Inadvertent
electrosurgical burns may result.
To reduce the risk of an inadvertent electrosurgical burn at the monitoring electrode or probe site,
place the electrode and/or probe as far away as possible from the electrosurgical site and/or patient
return electrode. Protective impedances (resistors or RF inductors) installed in the monitoring leads
may reduce the risk of such burns. Consult the hospital biomedical engineer for further
information.
In some circumstances, the potential exists for alternate site burns at points of skin contact (e.g.,
between the arm and the side of the body). This occurs when electrosurgical current seeks a path
to the patient return electrode that includes the skin-to-skin contact point. Current passing
through small skin-to-skin contact points is concentrated and may cause a burn. This is true for
ground referenced and isolated output electrosurgical energy systems.
To reduce the potential for alternate site burns, do one or more of the following:
• Avoid skin-to-skin contact points, such as fingers touching leg or knee touching knee when
positioning the patient.
• Place insulation, such as dry gauze or towel, between contact points to ensure that contact
does not occur.
• Position the patient return electrode to provide a direct current route between the surgical site
and the return electrode which avoids skin-to-skin contact areas.
• In addition, place patient return electrodes according to the manufacturer’s instructions.