Cauterization

Principle

Cauterization by heat

This is burning of tissue with a hot cauter for removing or burning arteries to stop them from bleeding. Cautery can also mean the branding of e.g. a livestock. Formaly, cauterization was used to stop heavy bleeding (amputations) by a piece of heated metal placed onto the wound. Later special medical instruments called cauters were used to cauterize e.g. arteries. The present form is electrocautery. The basics of electrocautory equipment is similar as that of electrosurgery.

Cauterization by refrigeration

Removal of tissue (warts) and stopping of bleedings can also be performed by a cold probe, cooled by e.g. liquid nitrogen. This technique has been evolved to cryosurgery.

Chemical cautery

Many chemical reactions can destroy tissue and some are used routinely in medicine, most commonly for the removal of small skin lesions (i.e. warts or necrotized tissue) or hemostasis.

Application

Electrocauterization is the process of destroying tissue with electricity and is a widely used technique in modern surgery, as for instance cutting through soft tissue i.e. abdominal fat in a laparotomy or breast tissue in a mastectomy, and especially small vessels bleedings (larger vessels being ligated).

Applications of cryosurgery respect general surgery, gynecology, otorhinolaryngology and skin oncology.

Chemical cauterizing is performed by e.g. silver nitrate and cantharidin. The former is bounded in a small stick that is dipped into water and pressed onto the lesion to be cauterized for a few moments. Cantharidin, an extract of the blister beetle, causes epidermal necrosis and blistering (warts).

More Info

Nasal Cauterization

Recurrent nose bleeds are most likely caused by an exposed blood vessel. In a bleeding-free period, it can be cauterized. The different methods of cauterization to stop the nose bleeding include burning the affected area with acid, hot metal, lasers, or silver nitrate. Sometimes liquid nitrogen is used as a less painful alternative, though less effective. Topically applied cocaine make this procedure less uncomfortable and cocaine is the only local anesthetic which also produces vasoconstriction.