Monopolar electrocautery dissection in ophthalmic plastic surgery

Monopolar electrocautery in the cutting mode is a superb surgical technique in many types of oculoplastic surgery because it efficiently dissects tissue with excellent hemostasis. The purpose of this article is to define how monopolar electrocautery functions and point out specific steps of certain oculoplastic procedures in which electrocautery dissection is useful. We have found it to be a helpful adjunct in over 1,200 clinical cases. We review the problems with electrocautery reported in the literature and discuss ways to avoid them.