point of contact. Though it makes the handpiece a little awkward, it's
not enough to outweigh its enormous benefits.
The benefits aren't just for your surgeons. Trust me, the use of an
evacuator makes the OR more pleasant overall for all of your staff
members and it helps to protect your patient on the table. You will
never hear an anesthesiologist or surgical technician complaining
about the use of an evacuator. In fact, most OR team members will
choose a smoke-free OR over a smoke-filled one any day of the week.
Having a mandatory smoke evacuation policy can not only help the
health of your staff, but also your recruitment efforts and retention
rates. (Editor's note: There are no mandatory smoke evacuation regu-
lations in the United States. California and Rhode Island failed to pass
bills.)
As for any lingering naysayers, education is key. If surgeons remain
resistant to using evacuators during surgery, then you need to create
doubt about the safety of the unfiltered air they are breathing day in
and out. Show them the studies and stories (maybe even mine!), and
they will likely come on board. Another way to get around stubborn
surgeons is to ask them to commit to using the evacuator for just 1
week. Many think of evacuators as big and bulky like the ones of past
generations, and will likely be pleasantly surprised to see how much
easier the new technologies are to use. Plus, after they see how much
clearer the air is without those noxious fumes in the OR, it's usually
not difficult to convince them to use the evacuator all the time.
OSM
F E B R U A R U Y 2 0 1 8 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 3 9
Dr. Hedley (fishakhon@aol.com) is the owner of the renowned Hedley
Orthpaedic Institute in Phoenix, Ariz.
The average plume created in one day in the OR is equivalent
to smoking as many as 30 unfiltered cigarettes.
