Surgical smoke

 ( Medical Terminology ) 

Surgical smoke is the by-product produced by electrosurgery, laser tissue ablation, or other surgical techniques. Surgical smoke, as a health threat to those exposed to it, has become a growing concern. Studies have demonstrated, depending on several factors, it may contain Carcinogen, Mutagen, irritant chemicals, live Virus and bacteria, and viable malignant cells. These all pose a theoretical and demonstrable risk of harming Patient or operating room personnel upon exposure. Other names for surgical smoke are cautery smoke, plume, diathermy plume, or, sometimes, Aerosol produced during surgery, vapor contaminants, or air contaminants.

Electrosurgery and laser ablation are the most common sources of surgical smoke. Heat generated during surgery causes Cell membrane to heat and rupture, releasing cellular debris alongside water vapor. Surgical smoke is composed of 95% water and the remaining 5% contains By-product of combustion and cellular debris. The negative health effects due to exposure of surgical smoke is attributed to what is contained in the 5%. The size of particles within the plume of smoke varies depending on the device that generated it. On average electrosurgery produces particles that are .07 μm, while laser ablation generates larger particles that are .31 μm on average. Particles smaller than 2 micrometers are able to reach the Alveolus within the lower respiratory tract and, if 0.1 μm or smaller, can enter systemic circulation.

The amount of cellular debris in a smoke plume changes with the tissue being Cauterization. The liver has been shown to generate the largest amount of particles. Other than type of tissue and surgical device, operating room airflow can also affect smoke exposure. read more on [1]

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Health impact The cellular debris included in surgical smoke has been shown to include live bacteria and Virus, and even viable malignant cells. The negative effects of surgical smoke exposure to Human is less documented than its effects on Animal. Acute negative effects due to the exposure of surgical smoke may include Headache, Eye irritation and throat irritation, nausea, drowsiness and dizziness. Operating personnel have been found to have an increased risk of chronic pulmonary and upper respiratory health problems compared to other populations. Human papilloma virus has been the only virus to demonstrate spreading via surgical smoke, despite concern for other viruses. Besides potential health effects, surgical smoke can visually obscure the surgical field.

The amount of benzene detected in operating room air has been shown to be greater than the recommended exposure limits established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which are 0.1 mg/m³ and 0.2 mg/m³ respectively.

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Minimizing exposure

The pores on a standard surgical mask are 5-15 μm in diameter, which is inadequate in completely protecting operating room personnel from the harms of surgical smoke. Due to studies evaluating particles passing through standard surgical masks, some suggested that more effective masks such as HEPA filter and N95 should be used to provide better protection from cellular debris. Others suggest that even N95s are ineffective at reducing health risks associated with ultra-fine particulate matter. Particulate matter is not the only pollutant produced by surgical smoke. Various volatile organic compounds are also created. Masks will be ineffective against gaseous compounds unless specialized filtration is used such as activated carbon or catalytic mesh.

Smoke evacuation devices (SED) are the most effective at reducing exposure of surgical smoke. However, the use of these devices is not widespread. Lack of SED usage has been attributed to low amounts of education surrounding the risks of surgical smoke and the Surgeon' unwillingness to adopt such devices. It has been suggested that the bulkiness of these devices and noise are factors contributing to lack of surgeons' enthusiasm for SED usage.

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Further reading

• (2025). 9781475991666, iUniverse. ISBN 9781475991666

Categories: Medical Terminology

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