Surgical Smoke Exposure in Operating Room Personnel

Surgical smoke is dangerous, but the severity of the risk has yet to be determined. Therefore, no safe level is known at this point. Efforts should be made to reduce and possibly eliminate smoke from the operating room. Research into cost-effective forms of smoke evacuation is necessary. Studies of respiratory and cancer sequelae of exposure to operating room smoke in personnel who have had long-term exposure to surgical smoke is also needed.