2 8 S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5
Take ownership in your personal
safety by understanding the true
dangers of surgical plume and
protecting yourself from the risk
of exposure.
Airborne threats
There are several potential haz-
ards associated with surgical
smoke: blood fragments, viable
bloodborne pathogens, bacteria and viruses, gases and vapors, and lung-dam-
aging dust. Some of the gases have demonstrated carcinogenic and mutagenic
potential.
1,2
Particulate matter generated during surgical procedures is dependent upon
instrumentation and can range in size from 0.07 to 6.5 micrometers.
3,4
Acute
and chronic respiratory conditions, like asthma, bronchitis and emphysema,
are associated with the inhalation of particles smaller than 5 micrometers.
3
Surgical smoke can also have strong odors that can lead to headaches and irri-
tation of the eyes, nose and throat.
It has been demonstrated that 1 gram of tissue irradiated with a CO
2
laser
releases smoke that has the mutagenic potential of 3 unfiltered cigarettes.
5
This statistic gets cited often, but has not been replicated. It would be benefi-
cial if studies were conducted to see if the same level of mutagenicity is meas-
ured in smoke generated with devices used in the OR today.
Research experiments have shown that HIV and hepatitis can remain viable
in surgical smoke.
3,6
Case studies have demonstrated viral transmission of
HPV from patients with anogenital condylomas to surgical team members in
the OR. The impacted healthcare workers developed laryngeal papillomato-
sis.
7,8
Smoke evacuation is also a patient safety issue. It's been shown that car-
z BLOWING SMOKE Don't listen to
surgeons or nurses who aren't concerned
about the dangers of airborne particulate.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
