Not Invisible but Existing Danger Surgical Smoke: A Literature Review

Abstract

Operating rooms are dangerous areas that may pose a risk to patients and healthcare professionals. One of the risks for patients and healthcare professionals is surgical smoke. Electrosurgical devices, which cause the formation of surgical smoke, are frequently used during surgical procedures performed in operating rooms and outpatient services, during endoscopic applications such as removal of polyps, stopping bleeding and tissue resection. Many studies on surgical smoke report the negative ef- fects of smoke on health professionals in the short term. Although the harm- ful effects of surgical smoke are known, studies show that operating room staff do not have sufficient knowledge about these effects and do not com- ply with smoke evacuation guidelines. Visible and malodorous, 95% of surgical smoke is water however, the remaining 5% consists of bacteria, viruses, living and dead cellular materials, blood, harmful chemicals. Many studies on surgical smoke report the negative effects of smoke on health professionals in the short term. Operating room personnel had headache, nausea, burning in the throat, cough, eye irritation, watery eye, sneezing, hair odor, hepatitis, cancer, asthma, dizziness, throat irritation, discomfort from smell, chronic bronchitis, rhinitis, drowsiness, anxiety, dermatitis. In the 2022 guideline of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, attention is drawn to the necessity of providing a surgical smoke-free work- ing environment in healthcare institutions. It is of great importance that the evacuation of surgical smoke is carried out in the best way, compliance with the recommendations in this direction and the implementation of the hierarchy.