China
Africa
Explore chapters and articles related to this topic
Evacuate smoke
Published in Michael Wiklund, Kimmy Ansems, Rachel Aronchick, Cory Costantino, Alix Dorfman, Brenda van Geel, Jonathan Kendler, Valerie Ng, Ruben Post, Jon Tilliss, Designing for Safe Use, 2019
Michael Wiklund, Kimmy Ansems, Rachel Aronchick, Cory Costantino, Alix Dorfman, Brenda van Geel, Jonathan Kendler, Valerie Ng, Ruben Post, Jon Tilliss
Inhaling surgical smoke (i.e., smoke plume) can cause mild to potentially dangerous side effects including dizziness, headache, eye and respiratory irritation, nausea, vomiting, skin irritation, and potential carcinogens. Not good!
Ultrafine particle transport inside an operating room equipped with turbulent diffusers
Published in Journal of Building Performance Simulation, 2020
Salahudeen Mohamed, Giorgio Buonanno, Nicola Massarotti, Alessandro Mauro
The most commonly used chemicals such anaesthetic gases (desflurane, nitrous oxide, and halothane) can produce significant particle concentration levels inside ORs during surgery (Buonanno et al. 2019; Hoerauf et al. 1996; Byhahn et al. 2000). In addition to these chemicals, various other compounds have been observed in ORs, which comprise 54% of the overall organic compounds (Dascalakia et al. 2008). However, the contamination caused by chemical agents is less pronounced than particles emitted during invasive surgeries on the human body (i.e. surgical smoke) (Barrett and Garber 2003; Hensman et al. 1998; Ragde, Jorgensen, and Foreland 2016). In these cases, smoke particles from pathological and surgical sites are emitted, with possible serious consequences on medical staff who are exposed to these particles (Ragde, Jorgensen, and Foreland 2016; Alkatout et al. 2012; Duchateau, Komen, and Colpaert 2011). In electrosurgery, tissue incisions are performed using electric tools which can reach temperatures up to 100°C, leading to vaporization of cell fluid and tissues, creating surgical smoke (Ulmer 2008; Romano et al. 2017; Bryant et al. 1988). The composition of surgical smoke is 95% water and 5% cellular substances in the form of particulate matter, which includes blood, chemicals, bacteria, and tissue particles. The main chemical composition of surgical smoke, such as hydrogen cyanide, xylene, toluene, acrylonitrile, aldehydes, and ethylbenzene, are harmful and dangerous for people who spend several hours in ORs (Gianella et al. 2014; Choi, Choi, and Kang 2017).
Exploring respiratory protection practices for prominent hazards in healthcare settings
Published in Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 2018
Kerri Wizner, Mahiyar Nasarwanji, Edward Fisher, Andrea L. Steege, James M. Boiano
It is important to consider in this cross-sectional analysis that the hazards in the survey have different respiratory recommendations and guidelines. The type of hazard, employer policies, and guidelines would be the appropriate drivers in determining whether respirator use is warranted, including when environmental action levels are exceeded.[23] For example, a respirator is recommended during compounding or administering antineoplastic drugs when splashes, aerosols, or vaporization are likely—unlike aerosolized antibiotics, which have not been classified by NIOSH as hazardous drugs.[24] During administration as an aerosol, ribavirin, and pentamidine require at least an N95 respirator but only when appropriate engineering controls are not in place.[25,26] Engineering controls are often employed for chemical sterilants and high-level disinfectants, but if ineffective, a respirator would be recommended.[27] Current recommendations for surgical smoke include the removal of the smoke at the source using portable smoke evacuators or wall suction systems, but in the absence of these engineering controls, respiratory protection is recommended.[28,29] For ILI, a surgical mask is recommended for seasonal influenza, and a respirator is recommended for high-risk procedures or potentially pandemic strains.[7]
Surgical smoke simulation study: Physical characterization and respiratory protection
Published in Aerosol Science and Technology, 2018
Yousef Elmashae, Richard H. Koehler, Michael Yermakov, Tiina Reponen, Sergey A. Grinshpun
Destruction of tissues by thermal energy during surgical procedures, most commonly electrocautery, generates surgical smoke in operating rooms (ORs). The smoke released from the surgical procedures has been shown to contain chemicals, cytotoxic components, carbon monoxide, non-viable cellular material, viable bacteria and viruses, and HIV DNA (Baggish et al. 1988; Baggish and Elbakry 1987; Barrett and Garber 2003; Brüske-Hohlfeld et al. 2008; Capizzi et al. 1998; Fletcher et al. 1999; Hensman et al. 1998; Moot et al. 2007; Sagar et al. 1996; Ulmer 2008; Wu et al. 1997). Additionally, the mutagenicity of samples captured from surgical smoke was found to be comparable to the level generated by smoking multiple unfiltered cigarettes in the same room (Hill et al. 2012).