Surgical smoke evacuators

Re: Surgical smoke evacuators

sisterscope1 — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:51:19 GMT

There's quite a lot of information out there, Google "Surgical Smoke".

I did try and cut and paste some links but my computer mouse is playing up and I keep losing them!

Laminar flow will clear smoke efficiently through dilution (300-600 air changes/hour) but unfortunately most of us don't have laminar flow - it's very expensive to run and a bit like working in a wind tunnel! Our theatres have 20 air changes per hour and you can see the smoke disappear quite quickly though if you're scrubbed you still get a good noseful! Even if you wear facemasks they don't filter the particles.

Apart from the chemicals in the smoke, recovery of viable bacteria and viruses from the smoke is possible - there are reports of papilloma virus being contracted through this route.

Cement fumes are very irriatant and same rule should ideally apply, use vaccum mixer which is attached to a charcoal filter - normal suction just redistributes into the room. I quite like the smell! We always announce its use and contact lens wearers and asthmatics are advised to leave the area.

Electrosurgery = diathermy

Re: Surgical smoke evacuators

Nick Shackleton — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:12:23 GMT

electrocautery produces surgical smoke!!!

With bone cement is more to do with the fumes created

Re: Surgical smoke evacuators

Hannah25uk — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:57:52 GMT

Thanks jut check ing also is it the same as electrocautery?

Re: Surgical smoke evacuators

Nick Shackleton — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:45:03 GMT

http://www.medcompare.com/spotlight.asp?spotlightid=109

Re: Surgical smoke evacuators

Hannah25uk — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:29:51 GMT

Has anyone got any studies/info on this i can give to my boss?

Re: Surgical smoke evacuators

Nick Shackleton — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:08:26 GMT

My OH is a Ex-Theatre nurse (human) and they used laminor flow in both their theatres to remove smoke from the operating area.

We also have pregnant members of staff at work and due to the prob with smoke removal they are not allowed in theatre during rpoducers.

Is bone cement also a prob???? I know it shouldnt be used in pregnant woman unless critical, but not sure about vapour inhaltation............. Althou for our bone cement when mixing we use a enclosed mixing bowl with extractor vaccume on it, althou you still have to open the bowl to access the cement!!!!