electrocautery /ilek′trōkô″tərē/ [Gk, elektron + kauterion, branding iron] , the application of a needle or snare heated by electric current for the destruction of tissue, such as for removing warts or polyps and cauterizing small blood vessels to limit blood loss during surgery. Also called electric cautery, galvanic cautery, galvanocautery. See also diathermy.
