Spectroscopic investigation of volatile compounds produced during thermal and radiofrequency bipolar cautery on porcine liver

The potential risks associated with the emission of by-products emitted by surgical cautery are of concern. Various investigations—mostly based on gas chromatography—have been performed to analyse the so-called surgical smoke but controversies remain in terms of composition and concentrations of compounds present in the smoke and hence the associated risk to human health. This quantitative model study uses for the first time CO 2 -laser-based photoacoustic spectroscopy and focuses on the analysis of volatile organic compounds produced during thermal- and radiofrequency bipolar cautery on porcine liver. The latter instrument is employed in actual human surgery. Concentrations in the ppm to sub-ppm range and molar fractions could be determined for carbon dioxide, water vapour, ammonia, ethanol and methanol. Distinct differences particularly in the methanol and ethanol contents were found between the two cautery devices employed.