Abstract
Among the accidents that have been reported incident to the use of high frequency currents in transurethral prostatic resections are ruptures of the bladder attributable to explosions within the organ.<sup>1</sup>Doubtless similar explosions resulting only in damage to the bladder mucosa are not uncommon.<sup>2</sup> The present investigation was undertaken with a view to determining whether the evolution of an explosive gas usually accompanies the use of high frequency currents in such resections and, if so, at what rate the gas is evolved, its composition, and how the danger of explosion may be minimized. In experiments on a series of twelve dogs there was produced in every instance a gaseous mixture which, in the absence of oxygen from external sources, was not explosive but became highly explosive on the addition of the proper proportion of oxygen or air. When such mixtures were exposed directly to the arc from the
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