Microdermal Implants Show No Effect on Surrounding Tissue During Surgery With Electrocautery

Clinical Issues

“…The patient or a perioperative team member also should remove the patient's penile piercing and the dermal implants in his abdomen because these may be in the pathway between the active and single‐use dispersive electrodes. However, one study states that the removal of stainless‐steel dermal implants may not be necessary . The researchers measured the skin temperature at dermal implant sites located between the active and single‐use dispersive electrodes on swine skin.…”

“…The differences in the temperature changes at the implant and control sites were not significant and there was no thermal injury to the tissue near the implant site. The researchers concluded that it may not be necessary to remove stainless‐steel dermal implants before a procedure, even if they are near the incision site …”

Bringing to Light the Risk of Burns From Retained Metal Jewelry Piercings During Electrosurgery—Torching the Myth

“…Even though the metal piercing was between the active electrode and the grounding pad, no clinically significant burns occurred unless the active electrode was in direct contact with the metal piercing. 6,7 If monopolar cautery is necessary for completion of a case that would otherwise be canceled, recommendations should consider safety features of modern electrosurgical units and the low incidence of alternate site burns unless the metallic jewelry is in direct contact with the electrosurgical instrument. However, recommendations should still consider other reasons for metallic piercing removal outside of the scope of this article, such as positioning.…”

“…This is substantiated by studies using thermal cameras to measure temperature change of metal piercings and implants while using modern monopolar electrocautery on ex vivo animal skin. Even though the metal piercing was between the active electrode and the grounding pad, no clinically significant burns occurred unless the active electrode was in direct contact with the metal piercing …”