Novel Gas-Liquid Drainage Tube for Electrosurgery: Safeguarding Health by Evacuating Toxic Gases and Improving Surgical Field Clarity

AIM: Surgical smoke generated during electrosurgery contains various toxic substances, including carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), formaldehyde (HCHO), total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), and particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), which pose a significant health threat to both surgical staff and patients. This study investigates the effectiveness of a novel gas-liquid drainage tube in removing surgical smoke and improving the safety of the surgical environment. METHODS: A gas detector and an air quality monitor were used to measure the concentrations of CO, carbon dioxide (CO2), PM2.5, HCHO, TVOC, and H2S in the rat model during electrosurgery. Animals were divided into two groups (n = 3 each): an experimental group employing a novel gas-liquid drainage tube and a control group using a traditional drainage tube. Measurements were taken at various time points (1, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min) and fixed distances from the surgical site (0, 10, 30, 50, 100, and 150 cm). Additionally, the effectiveness of the drainage tube in maintaining surgical field clarity during the procedure was evaluated using an image subtraction algorithm. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the novel gas-liquid drainage tube significantly reduced the concentrations of CO, CO2, PM2.5, HCHO, TVOC, and H2S in the experimental group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the drainage tube effectively reduced hazards and cleared smoke, thus improving the clarity of the surgical field. CONCLUSIONS: This device effectively reduces the concentration of harmful gases and particulate matter generated during electrosurgical procedures. These findings suggest that it may contribute to creating a cleaner, safer surgical environment.