AORN Journal
Volume 86, Issue 6 , Pages 1013-1024 , December 2007

Risks Associated with Exposure to Surgical Smoke Plume: A Review of the Literature

  • Lorraine Bigony, RN, CNOR

      Affiliations

    • Lorraine Bigony, RN, CNOR, is a perioperative staff nurse at Frankford Hospitals, Bucks County, Langhorne, PA. Ms Bigony has no declared affiliation that could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest in publishing this article.

References 

  1. Buffalo Filter Resource Center  . What is it? Buffalo Filter . http://www.buffalofilter.com/Resources.aspx Accessed October 16, 2007.
  2. Baggish MS , Baltoyannis P , Sze E . Protection of the rat lung from the harmful effects of laser smoke . Lasers Surg Med . 1988;8(3):248–253
  3. Thomas L . No smoking in the OR . Outpt Surg Mag . 2004;November:37–40
  4. Andersen E . Surgical smoke—is there a fire? . AAOHN J . 2005;53(3):103–104
  5. Laser/electrosurgery plume. United States Department of Labor. Occupational Safety & Health Administration . http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/laserelectrosurgeryplume/index.html Accessed October 16, 2007.
  6. Recommended practices for electrosurgery . In: Standards, Recommended Practices, and Guidelines . Denver, CO: AORN, Inc; 2007;p. 524–525
  7. In: ANSI Z135.3. The Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care Facilities . Washington, DC: American National Standards Institute; 1996;p. 7
  8. Roark J . Dangers of surgical smoke still persist despite awareness campaign. Infection Control Today . http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/articles/406/406_371topics.html July 2003; Accessed October 16, 2007.
  9. Gatti JE , Bryant CJ , Noone RB , Murphy JB . The mutagenicity of electrocautery smoke . Plast Reconstr Surg . 1992;89(5):781–784
  10. Wenig BL , Stenson KM , Wenig BM , Tracey D . Effects of plume produced by the Nd:YAG laser and electrocautery on the respiratory system . Lasers Surg Med . 1993;13(2):242–245
  11. Fletcher JN , Mew D , DesCoteaux JG . Dissemination of melanoma cells within electrocautery plume . Am J Surg . 1999;178(1):57–59
  12. Garden JM , O'Banion MK , Bakus AD , Olson C . Viral disease transmitted by laser-generated plume (aerosol) . Arch Dermatol . 2002;138(10):1303–1307
  13. Moot AR , Ledingham KM , Wilson PF , et al.   Composition of volatile organic compounds in diathermy plume as detected by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry . ANZ J Surg . 2007;77(1-2):20–23

  indicates that continuing education contact hours are available for this activity. Earn the contact hours by reading this article and taking the examination on pages 1021–1022 and then completing the answer sheet and learner evaluation on pages 1023–1024.You also may access this article online at http://www.aornjournal.org.The behavioral objectives and examination for this program were prepared by Rebecca Holm, RN, MSN, CNOR, clinical editor, with consultation from Susan Bakewell, RN, MS, BC, director, Center for Perioperative Education. Ms Holm and Ms Bakewell have no declared affiliations that could be perceived as a potential conflicts of interest in publishing this article.This program meets criteria for CNOR and CRNFA recertification, as well as other continuing education requirements.AORN is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.AORN is provider-approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 13019. Check with your state board of nursing for acceptance of this activity for relicensure.

PII: S0001-2092(07)00443-7

doi: 10.1016/j.aorn.2007.07.005

AORN Journal
Volume 86, Issue 6 , Pages 1013-1024 , December 2007

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