Describe ultrasonic surgical techniques and related safety issues.

Description should include

• ultrasonic techniques, such as the use of vibrating high-frequency waves, to facilitate cutting, coagulating, and aspirating during surgery (e.g., lithotripsy)
• ultrasonic surgical tools (e.g., harmonic scalpel and ultrasonic surgical aspirator/emulsifier)
• safety issues, such as burns, perforations, hemorrhaging, and infection, that can result from ultrasonic surgical techniques.

Process/Skill Questions:

• In what types of surgical situations might ultrasonic techniques be used? Why?
• What is a harmonic scalpel? An ultrasonic surgical aspirator/emulsifier? What is the role of each in applying ultrasonic surgical techniques?
• When applying ultrasonic techniques, how can the surgical team prevent harm to the patient in the form of burns? Perforations? Hemorrhaging? Infection?