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Surgical Smoke Essay

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Abstract
Surgical smoke is generated during the cutting or coagulation of tissue by a wide variety of devices including laser, vessel sealing devices and electro cautery. Quantity of smoke generated is variable based on the amount of tissue, open or closed procedure, device utilized and functional temperature of the device. The contents of the smoke generated contain numerable volatile organic compounds. Several carcinogenic particles have been isolated in surgical smoke. Both viral and bacterial components have been identified in smoke particles. The size of particles in surgical smoke is predominantly smaller than 2.5µM. Inhaled small particles have known negative health effects. Smoke temperature was not identified as an evaluated vector of risk in the literature. The literature does not definitively link surgical smoke exposure to injury or disease. Preventing workplace exposure to tobacco smoke has reduced mortality. Operating room personnel are likely at risk from chronic exposure to toxins, small particle inhalation and possible infectious transmissions from smoke. Smoke evacuation systems can provide …show more content…

In 2014 Tseng published in the world Journal of surgical oncology along with his partners a study aimed at assessing the exact cancer risk after exposure to surgical smoke.14 Using data from 10 mastectomies, in which large amounts of tissue was cauterized and smoke generated, smoke samples were collected from “within 30 cm at the breathing height of the surgeons and anesthetic technologist” and evaluated by GCMS.14 20 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected in the smoke.14 The study confirmed data found in several studies and identifies that particles from electro cautery smoke often are in the size range of 0.3 up to 0.5 µm.6,7,9,10,14 Cancer risk was calculated as increased and above World Health Organization standards for both personnel, primarily (89%) due to the particulate matter of the smoke versus the gaseous

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