Galvanocaustics (medicine)
In medicine, galvano-caustic is a surgical method that uses glowing heat generated by galvanic current for surgical purposes. The Breslau physician Albrecht Theodor Middeldorpf (1824–1868) developed this method and put it into practice.
A thin platinum wire is connected between two electrical poles of a galvanic chain . As soon as the circuit is closed, the wire begins to glow. Various medical devices are combined with this principle: spherical or knife-shaped instruments with which one can surgically separate and cut like a hot iron . A piece of platinum wire, the galvano cautery, is used for “cutting” . To “burn” the platinum wire is wrapped around a small porcelain cone .
The galvano-caustic cutting blade developed by the surgeon Victor von Bruns (1812-1883) was preferred and replaced the slow constriction with tightly folded threads. The platinum wire, 0.3 to 1 mm thick, is looped around the body part to be separated and pulled together. The bleeding caused by the “welding” of the incision is very little, which is of particular value when removing parts that are very rich in blood and vessels. In addition, the galvano-caustic cutting loop is suitable for operating in places that are very difficult to access and for allowing the glowing heat to act after the cold wire has been applied unhindered. Galvano-caustic is particularly suitable for operations in the mouth, on the rectum and on the male member.
