Which tool is commonly used for dissection and hemostasis during surgical procedures?

The Bovie pencil, also known as electrocautery or electrosurgical pencil, is commonly used during surgical procedures primarily for cutting tissue and providing hemostasis, which is the control of bleeding. This tool works by delivering a high-frequency electrical current to the tissue, causing it to heat and either cut or coagulate.

While a scalpel is fundamental for initial incision and fine dissection, it does not help with hemostasis. A hemostat is indeed used for clamping and controlling bleeding, primarily for blood vessels, but it doesn't serve the purpose of cutting tissue. Electrocautery scissors also function similarly to the Bovie pencil, being used for both cutting and cauterizing tissue, though they are less commonly utilized than the Bovie pencil in general procedures.

The Bovie pencil is thus the preferred tool for simultaneous dissection and hemostatic control, making it essential in many surgical settings to minimize blood loss while allowing for effective manipulation of tissue.