8 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J a n u a r y 2 0 1 7
Surgical smoke is a
gaseous byproduct
of using energy-
generating devices
such as electrosur-
gical units (ESu) and
lasers. research
from as far back as
the 1980s has
demonstrated the
serious threat that
surgical smoke
poses.
The health effects of exposure include acute and chronic
inflammatory respiratory changes (emphysema, asthma and
chronic bronchitis, for example), anemia, anxiety, cardiovascular
dysfunction, dermatitis, dizziness or lightheadedness brought on
by hypoxia, eye irritation, headache, nasopharyngeal lesions, nau-
sea or vomiting, sneezing, tearing, throat irritation and weakness.
More serious effects include hepatitis, HIV and certain kinds of
cancer, such as carcinoma and leukemia.
The size of the particles in surgical smoke directly influences
the type of adverse effects to respiratory health that can be expe-
rienced by the perioperative team. For example, the smaller par-
ticles that penetrate to the deepest areas of the lung can obstruct
gas exchange.
— Mary J. Ogg, MSN, RN, CNOR
RISING THREAT
How Surgical Smoke Sickens You
• START AT THE TOP Creating a smoke-free environment
begins with securing support from a facility's leadership circle.
