Radio Frequency Surgery – Benefits of this Method
As known in all surgical sectors
permanent
enhancements
based
on
new
surgical
techniques
and
technical
innovations are viewed also in
ENT. Radio frequency surgery
(alias: radio surgery, microwave
surgery or high frequency
surgery) is able to cut tissue
with high frequency radio
waves. This technique is not to
be mixed up with the effect of
electro
cauters,
diathermy
devices or radio generators for
these don’t provide surgical
cutting currents.
The
radio
surgical
unit
(radioSURG® 2200, MeyerHaake Medical Innovations,
Wehrheim,
Germany)
is
conglomerated of a high
frequency
transmitter,
an
outgoing antenna working like
a scalpel and a ingoing antenna
functioning
as
neutral
electrode.
The
working
frequency of the device is 2.2
MHz and so in the microwave
area. Physically radiowaves
rank among the electromagnetic
waves.
Their
spectrum starts with the high
frequency alternating currents
and ranges via radiowaves,
visible light domain up to the
gamma radiation.
Microwave with Accuracy
The high frequency radiowaves
used for radiosurgery animate
the water molecules of the intra
cellular liquid to self-induced
vibrations. The intra cellular
liquid evaporates due to the
heat caused by the vibrations;
the cell membrane can’t resist
the increased intra cellular
pressure. Result: The cell
‘explodes’ and the tissue
continuity is interrupted. The
directed radiowave propagation
destroys a narrow defined
tissue seam only. Due to the
high output power and the high
frequency the cutting process
takes place so fast, that the
surrounding tissue is not
harmed
thermally.
The
extremely fast sequel of the
filtered and rectified frequency
K:\Export\RS2200\Publication\Stussak engl.doc
waves is characteristic for this
new
device;
most
high
frequency devices work in the
range of 0.3 – 0.5 MHz. The
Wolfram-Scalpel-Electrode itself
gets not heated up, the
dissection
effect
is
not
influenced by the strain of
pressure or tension.
conchotomy
and
concha
therapy. In the coagulation
mode radiosurgery is very
suitable for epistaxis treatment.
The pressure and tension free
handling minimizes the danger
Benefits of High
Frequency Surgery
The higher
frequency
of
electromagnetic waves used in
line with radiosurgery leads to a
fast cell disintegration at lower
lateral heat dispersion resulting
in a minor thermal damage to
the surrounding tissue. It’s not
necessary to isolate the patient
from the underlay or metal
items as it is with electro
cauterisation. A better wound
healing process and less
cicatrisation is resulting from
the minor damage of the
surrounding tissue.
The pressure and tension free
working procedure using a
radiosurgery device as a scalpel
enables the performance of an
exactly guided cut and a less
complicated handling as known
in conventional surgery. The
coagulation of smaller vessels
while cutting offers a better
sight of the wound. Due to
pressure and tension free
cutting the tissue is hardly
traumatized and so side effects
are reduced.
Histological examinations show
a clearly minor tissue damage
in the radiowave surgery for
the minor cell disintegration of
the wound edges and hardly
any
tissue
contusion
or
disruptions. Without the scar
tissue being fibrous or shrinking
the healing process of the
wound takes place.
Use in ENT
In the nose and paranasal
sinuses surgery the radiowave
technology
proved
itself
especially when ablating nose
and septum polyps as well as in
Radio Concha Therapy
of damages in the orbita or
cranial area. Coagulation of the
blood vessels leads to a notable
improvement of the sight in the
narrow paranasal sinuses situs
already during the ablating
procedure. Due to less tissue
damage, postoperative pain
and cicatrisation occurs less
intense. Radiosurgery though is
highly recommended for the
surgery of superficial skin
tumours, teleangiectasia and
keloids as well as in the plastic
surgery. The excellent wound
healing
process
leads to
outstanding cosmetic results
accompanied by only light
postoperative disorders.
It has proved beneficially to
perform concha therapy or
even better termed Radio
Concha Therapy (RCT) under
local anaesthetic using an
electrode
especially
manufactured for this purpose. For
incisions and preparation of
skin flaps used for example in
the auricle plasty the radiowave
technologie offers a significant
benefit because the cutting
procedure is performed without
pressure on the tissue and
excellent coagulation at the
same time.
Dr. med Günther Stussak, Ulm
Published in: HNO Praxisinformationen für den HNO-Arzt
6/2002
Translated by:
Mayer-Haake GmbH
Medical Innovations