Electrosurgical quality assurance: the view from the OR table

Because of the potential hazards involved in electrosurgery, a number of tasks must be performed by the clinical staff when an electrosurgical unit is used. The tasks can be broken down into three groups--those that must be carried out before commencing with the electrosurgical procedure, those that must be checked during the course of the procedure, and those that must be attended to at the end of the procedure. The author recommends preparing a checklist to ensure proper completion of these tasks, to enhance the safety and efficacy of the ESU.