2. Make the case
Some surgeons push back against the use of smoke evacuators,
believing the devices are obtrusive and might hamper their maneuver-
ing around the surgical site. Staff therefore need to be able to advo-
cate for smoke-free ORs. They could say, for example, Did you know
that surgical smoke contains carcinogens and other toxins?
Encourage staff to talk to the other surgeons about plume hazards
and to suggest that they use the new devices. Surgeons are bound to
listen.
To help the cause, hang up dramatic posters that explain the haz-
ards of surgical smoke. Place them in areas where staff members con-
gregate so they see and absorb the information.
Our hospital's administration had some legitimate concerns about
adding smoke evacuators because we'd be wasting the disposable
electrocautery pencils that already came in our surgical packs. That
would be true, but what about the nurse who keeps having bronchitis
and sinus issues? What about the tech who keeps getting pneumonia?
What are those costing us? That recognition helped get management
on board.
3. Assess the options
Talk to vendors about the cost and the design of their smoke evacua-
tion pencils and narrow down the options to a couple for your sur-
geons to trial. Limiting the options limits the number of opinions you
have to listen to and consider before making a purchasing decision. I
know from experience that less is more when it comes to product tri-
als. Surgeons who have balked at using smoke evacuators in the past
because of concerns about how loud they are and how much they get
in the way at the surgical site need to check out the latest options,
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