Electrosurgery is used to _________ the tissue.

Electrosurgery is primarily utilized to cut and coagulate tissue during surgical procedures. When electrical current is passed through tissue, it generates heat, resulting in the cutting of tissue or the coagulation of blood vessels to minimize bleeding. This dual function is crucial in maintaining a clear surgical field, thus enhancing operational efficiency and patient safety.

While increasing temperature is a result of the process, it is not the primary objective of electrosurgery. The main purpose of electrosurgery encompasses cutting tissue and achieving hemostasis by coagulating vessels. Therefore, the choice highlighting the dual action of cutting and coagulating accurately reflects the purpose and practical application of electrosurgery in the perioperative setting.