Electrosurgery and wound healing: an experimental study in rats.

Many surgeons are hesitant in the use of electrocautery on the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of the present study is to compare wound healing following incisions made by scalpel and diathermy in the rat. Healing was assessed by bursting strength measurements and histology. This study revealed no difference in strength by bursting measurements between scalpel and diathermy incision. Histologically there is not a lag in healing in the gastrointestinal tract following electroincision. It is concluded that in abdominal surgery, diathermy can be used without detriment to the strength of any suture line and with no difference in its final healing.