Abstract
Every year thousands of health care professionals worldwide are exposed to surgical smoke. There is evidence that this smoke consists of toxic gases, pathogens and particulate matter that is a hazard for patients and the perioperative team. Past research indicates that perioperative staff inconsistently comply with smoke evacuation recommendations. The aim of this study was to identify, review and discuss the issues related to surgical plume and its implications for patients and perioperative staff. The findings of this review relate to: surgical smoke content, its risks to the health of the perioperative staff, preventative measures, infection control measures, compliance with smoke evacuation systems, staff knowledge and barriers to implementing smoke evacuation practices. Of particular importance, the literature indicated that strong support from management and the implementation of regular staff education could improve practice for the management of surgical plume in the operating theatre.
Highlights
Known as surgical smoke, cautery smoke, smoke-plume, diathermy plume, aerosol, bio-aerosol, vapour and air-contaminants[1,2], is a dangerous by-product produced by the electrosurgical instruments used to dissect tissue, provide haemostasis and perform laser ablation
The findings of this study relate to the risks associate with surgical plume, the measures taken to prevent these risks and compliance with implementing preventative measures
(HEPA), ventilation exhausts and smoke evacuators is recommended to reduce exposure to the harmful effects of surgical plume and effectively purify the air in the operating room[13,14,27,28,29]
Summary
Known as surgical smoke, cautery smoke, smoke-plume, diathermy plume, aerosol, bio-aerosol, vapour and air-contaminants[1,2], is a dangerous by-product produced by the electrosurgical instruments used to dissect tissue, provide haemostasis and perform laser ablation. Health professionals in the perioperative environment are routinely exposed to surgical smoke, plume and aerosols produced by instruments used to dissect tissue and provide haemostasis This can pose significant health risks, in particular for nurses and anaesthetists who spend more time in the operating room than ancillary workers, such as Journal of Perioperative Nursing in Australia Volume 30 Number 4 Summer 2017 acorn.org.au orderlies, and surgeons because of clinic or ward schedules[3]. These components of the surgical plume are classified as ‘physical’, ‘biological’ and ‘chemical’[1]
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