The potential problems caused by surgical smoke in the OR have come to light over the last few years. Electrosurgery produces smoke which may be contaminated by bacteria, viruses or mutagens and other pollutants. There is also the possibility that the smoke will combine with alcohol preps or other flammable gases in the room to form noxious fumes that need to be removed. It's an issue that healthcare providers need to understand, control, and minimize in order to promote a safe, sterile operating environment.
The number of surgeries performed continues to rise, which means healthcare providers are at greater risk than ever before. Surgeons, facility owners and managers truly have to think of all details that go into performing an operation so that every variable can be managed and controlled.
Since about 80 percent of all surgical procedures use cauterization techniques that generate smoke, proper sanitation methods need to include removing surgical smoke, gases and fumes from the OR as quickly as possible. Regulatory agencies, like the National Institutes for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), indicate that normal room ventilation is not adequate to remove smoke plume materials and should be augmented by local evacuation systems (LEVs) such as room (wall) suction and/or portable smoke evacuation products to keep the breathing air clean.
Providers can face a risk for malpractice claims if they fail to keep the air in the operating room sanitary and there is also the possibility of major complications during surgery. With so much on the line, the benefits of keeping the air in the room free of surgical smoke and other pollutants greatly outweigh the costs of providing and utilizing a medical-grade smoke evacuation system. Smoke evacuation systems are the most effective way to control and remove surgical smoke from the OR. A high-quality system, like the Bovie Smoke Shark II, can virtually eliminate the risks from noxious fumes and potential harmful gases with a four-stage filtration process:
- Pre-filter
- ULPA
- Carbon
- Post-filter
Features like effective flow rates, remote devices, pneumatic footswitches and long-life filters mean healthcare providers can keep the air in the room sanitary with nearly no effort.
Check out our Free eBook Download: Electrosurgical Generator Safety Guidelines
