Radio-wave Surgery is the use of radio waves instead of a scalpel blade. The advantages are similar to laser surgery: less blood loss and more precision. It is especially valuable when doing fine detail surgery or microsurgery such as is usually the case with birds and small exotics.
Radio-wave Surgery is the passage of fully filtered, high-frequency radiowaves through tissue. When these waveforms are amplified and directed to an electrode that is applied to tissue, an electromagnetic field is created. This electromagnetic field heats up the intracellular fluid and volatilizes the cell.1 This description may sound familiar. It is essentially the same process that a laser uses, but instead of light stimulating the intracellular fluid it is radiowaves. There have been many anecdotal testimonials describing the benefits of Radio-wave Surgery over the past 25 years, during which it has been a mainstay in veterinary medical hospitals, especially those that treat avian and exotic species.2 Recent advances, however, require us to revisit this technology and consider a broader application to other veterinary species. At Quality Care Animal Hospital we’ve been using this surgical technique For many years with great success.
INDICATIONS FOR RADIO-WAVE SURGERY:
- Skin incisions
- Tumor removal
- Amputations
- Reproductive tract surgery
- Biopsies
- Castration
- Bumblefoot
- Aural resection
- Ear cropping
- Ectropion/entropion
- Nasal polyps
- Papillomas
- Soft palate surgery
- Tail amputation
- Ingrown feathers
- Cloacal surgery
- Abscess removal
- Plastic surgery procedures
- Soft tissue surgery