What is surgical smoke?

Surgical smoke is a suspension formed when working with instruments for cutting and hemostasis of tissues during surgery: lasers, electrosurgical devices, ultrasonic scalpels. Inhaled by the medical personnel in the OR and the patient, this suspension has a detrimental effect on health

How is surgical smoke created?

During operation of electrosurgical instruments, high-frequency current is passed through human tissue, exploding or vaporizing cells. Surgical smoke is a byproduct of this vaporization. In this case, the sugeon, assistant, and also the operating nurse are in close proximity to the source of surgical smoke

What does surgical smoke consist of?

Surgical smoke contains over 140 different chemical substances
40 of these chemicals are toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic
They are formed during a chemical process when energy interacts with fats, proteins and other substances that make up the body's tissues

What are the risks of surgical smoke for staff and patients?

Research has shown:

4-6 hours of work in the operating room is equivalent to passive smoking of 27-30 cigarettes in terms of detrimental health effects
500,000 U.S. healthcare workers are exposed to surgical smoke each year
Surgical nurses are twice as likely to suffer from respiratory diseases compared to the general population

There are three aspects of surgical smoke hazard – Physical, Chemical, Biological

1. The physical aspect of surgical smoke hazard is the penetration of suspended particles into the respiratory system, which is comparable in effect to cigarette smoke and polluted air. Excess suspended particles in the lungs can cause or intensify bronchiolitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atherosclerosis, thrombosis.

Standard surgical masks trap particles up to 0.5 microns with approximately 43% efficiency and do not fit tightly to the nose and mouth. While particles less than 0.3 microns work like gas - they can penetrate the alveoli of the lungs. Particles 0.25 microns in size can enter the bloodstream, lymphatic system, placenta

2. The chemical aspect of surgical smoke hazard is associated with the chemical composition of suspended particles.

Surgical smoke always contains: benzene, hydrocyanic acid, toluene, formaldehyde. These substances are formed during a chemical reaction when energy interacts with fats, proteins and other substances that make up human tissues

3. Biological aspect of the danger of surgical smoke

Surgical smoke is 95% water vapor. Water is a carrier of viable viruses and bacteria. This is the main cause of the following facts:

Intact HPV, HIV and Hepatitis B have been found in surgical smoke
Intact Chains of viruses and human DNA have been found in surgical smoke
Intact cancer cells have been found in surgical smoke
Transmission of tuberculosis is possible through surgical smoke

Transmission of diseases through surgical smoke is POSSIBLE and corresponding cases have been documented

Recommended Practices, Guidelines, Standards and Regulations

So, now we know that surgical smoke:

a) exists in the operating room
b) is dangerous to health
c) is not filtered by regular surgical masks; 4-stage ULPA filters are needed to filter surgical smoke

A number of international associations of surgeons and other health professionals regularly express concern about the problem of surgical smoke and issue recommendations for cleaning the air in the operating room. Some of these documents and articles could be found by an enclosed link.

How to protect yourself from smoke?

There are various methods of protection against surgical smoke. These devices usually include a delivery device (tube), a vacuum source (smoke evacuator/surgical aspirator etc.) and a filter element.

Conmed Buffalo is a world leader in the production of surgical smoke evacuators, filters, pencil electrodes and other consumables for surgical smoke evacuation. Our range includes several models of smoke evacuators of different designs and performance, as well as a wide range of consumables, including four-stage ULPA filters.

Conmed Buffalo VisiClear is the most advanced smoke evacuator on the market today. Touch screen, flexible settings, occlusion warning system, low operating noise, high power and economical filters - everything for efficient work in large surgeries

Conmed Buffalo ViroVac is a basic, compact, inexpensive smoke evacuator that is suitable for both office cosmetology and surgical operations. This device is widely used throughout the world and has proven itself in a variety of cases.

Separate tubes or electrode holders combined with a smoke evacuation - Buffalo offers the widest range, from inexpensive and simple to a premium line with a telescopic window for capturing smoke from a long electrode. A special swivel joint of the hose with the handle allows you to level out the inconvenience associated with manipulating a clumsy hose.

Are you "smoking" in the operating room? Let's clear the air right now!