Is surgical smoke carcinogenic for operating theatre staff ?

Abstract For nearly four decades, surgical smoke has raised suspicions regarding its potential link to lung cancer. Various factors, such as the type of surgical instrument used and the nature of dissected tissues, influence the composition of this smoke, generating a variety of biological by-products whose toxicity can vary significantly. With this in mind, the present review compiles various studies conducted on surgical smoke based on the type of dissected tissue. The aim is to determine which medical specialties might be most exposed to the dangers of this surgical smoke. The analysis is based on three fundamental pillars: the size of emitted particles, their chemical composition, and their mutagenic potential, in order to provide a comprehensive perspective on the risks associated with this phenomenon.