Comparative study of the safety and efficacy of liquid and dry monopolar electrocoagulation in experimental canine bleeding ulcers using computerized energy monitoring.

The drawbacks of monopolar electrocoagulation in the control of gastrointestinal bleeding include tissue adherence, unpredictable energy deposition, and a high incidence of tissue damage. Introduction of a conductive interfacial film of liquid between the monopolar electrode and the bleeding point during electrocoagulation may overcome these drawbacks. A prospective, controlled study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a monopolar electrode in liquid and dry modes when used to coagulate experimental canine bleeding ulcers. All experiments were done in open fashion via a gastrotomy with hand-held electrodes. An analog computer, which could be connected between a standard electrosurgical generator and the electrode, was designed and built to monitor and control the energy delivered to the tissue. Both liquid and dry electrodes were highly effective in stopping bleeding. The liquid electrode was found to be superior to the dry electrode in that tissue adherence was eliminated and energy deposition was more predictable, varying less with angle of incidence. The liquid electrode caused less macroscopic serosal damage and less full-thickness histologic damage if the total energy or number of pulses was limited; however, both caused microscopic full-thickness damage in one-half of the experimental ulcers treated, although no perforations occurred.