warts in their throat and nose after years of breathing in the smoke
created during laser ablation of warts. Many groups, including AORN,
3 6 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • F E B R U A R U Y 2 0 1 8
• Acetonitrile
• Acetylene
• Acroloin
• Acrylonitrile
• Alkyl benzene
• Benzaldehyde
• Benzene
• Benzonitrile
• Butadiene
• Butene
• Carbon monoxide
• Creosol
• 1-Decene (hydrocarbon)
• 2,3-Dihydro indene
(hydrocarbon)
• Ethane
• Ethene
• Ethylene
• Ethyl benzene
• Ethynyl benzene
• Formaldehyde
• Furfural (aldehyde)
• Hexadecanoic acid
• Hydrogen cyanide
• Indole (amine)
• Isobutene
• Methane
• 3-Methyl butenal (aldehyde)
• 6-Methyl indole (amine)
• 4-Methyl phenol
• 2-Methyl propanol (aldehyde)
• Methyl pyrazine
• Phenol
• Propene
• 2-Propylene nitrile
• Pyridine
• Pyrrole (amine)
• Styrene
• Toluene (hydrocarbon)
• 1-Undecene (hydrocarbon)
• Xylene
Below is a list of chemicals contained in surgical smoke that
Anthony Hedley, MD, FACS, keeps in his office as a reminder of
its hidden dangers (osmag.net/2AEuyX):
SCARY SMOKE
Take a Look at the Chemicals Contained in Surgical Plume
