Thermal destruction of tissue produced by use of a laser or electrosurgical unit during surgical procedures exposes OR personnel (including surgeons, perioperative nurses, surgical technologists, and anesthetists) and patients to surgical smoke containing potentially hazardous breathable aerosols and cell fragments. This continuing education activity has been designed to assist perioperative professionals deliver safe and effective patient care when smoke evacuation is used during operative and invasive procedures. The topics presented will include what we know about surgical smoke; the best defenses against surgical smoke; recommended United States (US) practices, guidelines, standards, and regulations as well as international recommendations/guidelines on surgical smoke; and suggested steps for implementing a smoke evacuation program.
Learning Objectives:
Discuss the contents, distribution, and risks of surgical smoke
Describe the best defenses against surgical smoke
Review the practices, guidelines, standards, and recommendations for evacuation of surgical smoke in the US
Identify global recommendations/guidelines for evacuation of surgical smoke
Outline a plan to develop a surgical facility smoke evacuation program
.jpg "Scott Hantz, MBA, MSN, RN, EMT-P photo")