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Surgery Today
Published in: Surgery Today 8/2015

01-08-2015 | Review Article

Health risks associated with exposure to surgical smoke for surgeons and operation room personnel

Authors: Kae Okoshi, Katsutoshi Kobayashi, Koichi Kinoshita, Yasuko Tomizawa, Suguru Hasegawa, Yoshiharu Sakai

Published in: Surgery Today | Issue 8/2015

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Abstract

Although surgical smoke contains potentially hazardous substances, such as cellular material, blood fragments, microorganisms, toxic gases and vapors, many operating rooms (ORs) do not provide protection from exposure to it. This article reviews the hazards of surgical smoke and the means of protecting OR personnel. Our objectives are to promote surgeons’ acceptance to adopt measures to minimize the hazards. Depending on its components, surgical smoke can increase the risk of acute and chronic pulmonary conditions, cause acute headaches; irritation and soreness of the eyes, nose and throat; dermatitis and colic. Transmission of infectious disease may occur if bacterial or viral fragments present in the smoke are inhaled. The presence of carcinogens in surgical smoke and their mutagenic effects are also of concern. This review summarizes previously published reports and data regarding the toxic components of surgical smoke, the possible adverse effects on the health of operating room personnel and measures that can be used to minimize exposure to prevent respiratory problems. To reduce the hazards, surgical smoke should be removed by an evacuation system. Surgeons should assess the potential dangers of surgical smoke and encourage the use of evacuation devices to minimize potential health hazards to both themselves and other OR personnel.
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Metadata
Title
Health risks associated with exposure to surgical smoke for surgeons and operation room personnel
Authors
Kae Okoshi
Katsutoshi Kobayashi
Koichi Kinoshita
Yasuko Tomizawa
Suguru Hasegawa
Yoshiharu Sakai
Publication date
01-08-2015
Publisher
Springer Japan
Published in
Surgery Today / Issue 8/2015
Print ISSN: 0941-1291
Electronic ISSN: 1436-2813
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-014-1085-z

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