Best Practices for Surgical Smoke Evacuation and Filtration

Best Practices for Surgical Smoke Evacuation and Filtration.Surgical smoke is produced when surgical energy devices, such as electrosurgical units, lasers, and high-speed powered instruments, are used on tissue.It has been reported to contain toxic compounds (eg, hydrogen cyanide, benzene), bioaerosols, viruses (eg, human immunodeficiency virus), viable cancer cells, particles, blood fragments, and bacteria.Perioperative personnel, including surgeons, nurses, anesthesia professionals, and surgical technologists, are exposed to surgical smoke and its associated hazards (eg, respiratory, carcinogenic).To help protect personnel from these hazards and decrease their potential health risks, AORN recommends that health care organizations provide an environment free of surgical smoke, which includes using smoke evacuation and filtration in addition to room ventilation. 1