Surgical smoke exposure to patients and to healthcare workers in the operating room: a quantitative assessment
摘要
Surgical smoke produced by the use of an electrosurgical unit may have a negative effect to patients and healthcare workers in the operating room, but studies on this problem are insufficient.
MethodsIn 100 situations in which patients were undergoing four types of surgery under general anesthesia, the count of airborne particles (in 1.415 L) was measured using a particle counter to see possible differences at the patients and at the anesthesiologists, during different types of surgery, and at several locations.
ResultsThe airborne particles during the use of an electrosurgical unit were significantly higher than before its use, both at the patient’s head (median: 56/L vs 3,514/L; 95%CI for the median difference: 769–7,699/L) and at the anesthesiologist’s position (230/L vs 6,907/L; 95%CI for the median difference: 2,945–13,196/L) (p < 0.0001). The airborne particles were significantly higher during cardiovascular surgery than during open abdominal surgery (median difference in increase: 8,439/L), significantly higher during open abdominal surgery than during head and neck surgery (2,654/L), and significantly higher during head and neck surgery than during laparoscopic surgery (1,442/L) (all p < 0.0001), and were high anywhere in the operating room and even outside the operating room door (always > 2,000/L).
ConclusionsDuring the use of an electrosurgical unit, both the patients and healthcare workers are at increased risk of being exposed to high concentrations of airborne particles derived from surgical smoke.