An electrosurgical instrument is provided for the treatment of tissue, the instrument (3) comprising an instrument shaft (14) having a longitudinal axis, a suction lumen (24) extending at least partially along the instrument shaft, and an electrode assembly at one end of the shaft. The electrode assembly comprises at least one tissue treatment electrode (16), the tissue treatment electrode having an end face (17) and at least one side face (18). The tissue treatment electrode includes a plurality of apertures in communication with the suction lumen, at least one aperture (19) being present in the end face and at least one aperture (20) being present in the side face.
