Bipolar coagulation in neurosurgery

Coagulation is an essential part of a surgical procedure, especially in neurosurgery. Beginning in the early years of this century, various techniques have been used to control bleeding at the surgical site. Over the years, these techniques have led to the invention of the bipolar coagulator and its modifications. Prevention of charring and tissue adhesion have been the goals of bipolar coagulator manufacturers all over the world; new techniques and different metallurgical compositions for the forceps have been tried to achieve these results. The NS2000, with its microprocessor-based controlled coagulative sequence, can be a good system for reducing tissue adhesion and charring under desired limits of low output power ranges provided by the system. Comparable results can also be obtained with the Mails CMC III and Synergy Malls systems with irrigation channels. These systems have the additional advantages of providing higher power outputs at lower panel settings and a maximum power output greater than that of NS2000. For neurosurgeons who need the additional option of cutting, the Malis CMC III is the recommended system, (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc.