Encision's Surgical Technology Cited in New AORN Recommended Practices

BOULDER, Colo. -- Encision's electrosurgical technology has been cited in the new AORN Recommended Practices for Electrosurgery, published by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) in the February 2004 issue of the AORN Journal.

AORN is the professional organization of 41,000 perioperative personnel

dedicated to achieving optimal outcomes for patients undergoing surgical

procedures. As a part of their overall effort, AORN publishes AORN

Recommended Practices providing guidance to perioperative personnel on what is

believed to be an optimal level of practice.

In the new Recommended Practices for Electrosurgery, effective Jan. 1,

2004, AORN includes numerous references to the importance of using

electrosurgical devices designed for optimal safety.

Recommended Practice I -- Personnel selecting the electrosurgical

(devices) for purchase or use should make decisions based on safety

features to minimize risks to patients and personnel.

* Equipment selected should include technology to detect stray current

that could result in patient injury and to alert the user of this

condition.

* During minimally invasive procedures, injuries have resulted from

insulation failure and capacitive coupling. These injuries are very

serious and have increased in number with the increased use of

laparoscopic surgery.

* The use of active electrode monitoring has minimized these risks.

Recommended Practice VIII -- Personnel should take special precautions

when using electrosurgical devices during endoscopic procedures.

* Insulation failure of the laparoscopic electrode ... can cause

serious patient injury.

* Capacitively coupled current can cause undetected burns to nearby

tissue ... outside the viewing field. Serious patient injuries

have resulted.

* Use of active electrode shielding and monitoring minimizes the risks

of insulation failure and capacitive-coupling injuries.

Encision's AEM Surgical Instruments are 'shielded and monitored' to

prevent stray electrosurgical burn injuries to unintended tissue, a

well-documented patient safety risk in minimally-invasive surgery. AEM

Instruments incorporate 'active electrode monitoring' technology to

dynamically monitor the integrity of the instruments continuously during the

surgical procedure, thus helping to prevent an inadvertent patient injury.

Electrosurgery instruments are used by an estimated 85% of general

surgeons in the U.S. and are considered the gold-standard tool for surgeons

worldwide for cutting, coagulating and ablating tissue.

Encision Inc. designs and manufactures innovative surgical devices that

allow the surgeon to optimize technique and patient safety during a broad

range of surgical procedures. Based in Boulder, Colo., the company

pioneered the development of patented AEM Surgical Instruments to improve

electrosurgery and reduce the chance for patient injury in minimally invasive

surgery.

AORN Recommended Practices do not endorse any specific company or product;

however, Encision's AEM Instruments are the only instruments on the market

which incorporate a 'shielded and monitored' design to prevent the risk of

stray electrosurgical burn injury from insulation failure and capacitive

coupling in minimally invasive surgery.

AORN believes that a culture of safety must be created, nurtured and

promoted and that leaders must take an active role in ensuring processes to

maintain and improve patient safety. In 2002, AORN launched a major patient

safety program called Patient Safety First, a program intended to promote

dialogue, strategies and initiatives on patient safety issues. AORN's patient

safety initiative is intended to advance system solutions with safety as the

first priority, so that these solutions can be implemented to prevent errors

and adverse events in the surgical environment.

Source: Encision Inc.