Editing Cauterization (section)

{{Short description|Medical practice to burn tissue}}
{{Redirect|Cauterize|the album|Cauterize (album)}}

'''Cauterization''' (or '''cauterisation''', or '''cautery''') is a medical practice or technique of [[burn (injury)|burning]] a part of a body to remove or close off a part of it. It destroys some tissue in an attempt to mitigate [[bleeding]] and damage, remove an undesired growth, or minimize other potential medical harm, such as [[infection]]s when [[antibiotic]]s are unavailable.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cautery?qsrc=2888 |title=Dictionary definition, retrieved: 2009-03-07.}}</ref>

The practice was once widespread for treatment of wounds. Its utility before the advent of antibiotics was said to be effective at more than one level:

*To prevent [[exsanguination]]
*To close [[amputation]]s

Cautery was historically believed to prevent infection, but current research shows that cautery actually increases the risk for infection by causing more tissue damage and providing a more hospitable environment for bacterial growth.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/S0002-9610(98)00020-8 |title=Electric Cautery Lowers the Contamination Threshold for Infection of Laparotomies |year=1998 |last1=Soballe |first1=Peter W |last2=Nimbkar |first2=Narayan V |last3=Hayward |first3=Isaac |last4=Nielsen |first4=Thor B |last5=Drucker |first5=William R |journal=The American Journal of Surgery |volume=175 |issue=4 |pages=263–6 |pmid=9568648}}</ref> '''Actual cautery''' refers to the metal device, generally heated to a dull red glow, that a physician applies to produce [[blisters]], to stop [[bleeding]] of a [[blood vessel]], and for other similar purposes.<ref name=TMHP>{{cite-TMHP|Actual cautery}}, page 16.</ref>

The main forms of cauterization used today are '''electrocautery''' and '''chemical cautery'''—both are, for example, prevalent in cosmetic removal of [[wart]]s and stopping [[nosebleed]]s. Cautery can also mean the [[Human branding|branding of a human]].