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Introduction: Bipolar electro-surgery is used in all disciplines of surgery to aid in haemostasis. Although common sense dictates tissue penetration will be effected by power settings, no formal evaluation of this effect has been made. We performed an experiment to accurately measure the tissue penetration of bipolar diathermy at different strengths. Materials and Methods: Laboratory study using a porcine liver model. Different wattages (10-40 W) of bipolar electro-surgery were applied to deceased porcine liver, with and without fascial covering for a fixed duration. The tissue penetration was measured with a light microscope in two planes, horizontal and perpendicular. The data was compared with a Spearman Rank correlation coefficient calculation. Results: For both fascia and non fascia covered liver there was a statistically significant correlation Original Research Article

Pathological specimens from columnar-lined oesophagus (CLO) comprise a considerable proportion of the workload of gastrointestinal pathologists in Western countries. There remain controversies concerning the diagnostic role of pathology. More recently, in the UK at least, the diagnosis has been regarded as primarily an endoscopic endeavour, with pathology being corroborative and only diagnostic when endoscopic features are equivocal or when there are additional features that make the endoscopic diagnosis unclear. There is also recognition that demonstration of intestinalisation or 'goblet cells' is not paramount, and should not be required for the diagnosis. There have been notable changes in the management of CLO neoplasia: pathologists are centrally involved in its management. Pathological assessment of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) specimens provides the most useful means of determining the management of early neoplasia and of determining indications for surgery. This represents an extraordinarily rapid change in management, in that, <10 years ago, laborious Seattle-type biopsy protocols were recommended, and high grade dysplasia was an indication for resectional surgery. Now, individual patient management is paramount: multi-professional meetings determine management after biopsy and EMR assessment. One significant change is that major resections are undertaken less often, in Western countries, for CLO neoplasia.