High-frequency radio wave electrosection of full-thickness eyelid tissues

The Ellman Surgitron, commonly used in dermatology practice, is an electrosurgical instrument with a high-frequency waveform that is modified by filtering and undamping the current so that an almost pure cut is possible, yet with a small amount of coagulation. This device was used in six patients undergoing full-thickness eyelid resection (unilateral in three and bilateral in three) for involutional entropion or ectropion. Nine lid margins were cut with scissors, and nine with the electrosurgical instrument. The latter was found to cause minimal tissue damage and to modify the superficial epithelial cell layer very slightly, without causing it to slough. The tissue was cut cleanly, with less bleeding than occurred with scissors incision.