Diathermy Plate

Diathermy Plate

A diathermy plate (also called a return electrode or grounding pad) is used in monopolar electrosurgery. When a surgeon uses an electrosurgical pencil or diathermy unit to cut or coagulate tissue, high-frequency electrical current flows from the active electrode (the surgical instrument) through the patient and needs a safe path back to the generator — that’s where the diathermy plate comes in.

✅ Function:
It safely returns the electrical current to the machine, preventing burns or tissue damage. It’s placed on a large, well-perfused area of the patient (like the thigh or buttock) to evenly distribute the returning current and avoid concentrating heat.

✅ Important points:

• Only needed for monopolar diathermy, not bipolar.

• Must have full contact with the patient’s skin — avoid bony prominences or scarred/dry skin.

• Modern systems often have contact quality monitoring to ensure it’s working properly.

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