Together We Can Clear the Air
77% of particles in surgical smoke are not filtered out by standard surgical masks.1,2
®
Why is Surgical Smoke
So Hazardous?
Surgical smoke is a dangerous by-product generated from the use of lasers, electro-surgical pencils, ultrasonic devices, and other surgical energy-based devices. As these instruments cauterize vessels and destroy (vaporize) tissue, fluid, and blood, a gaseous material known as surgical smoke is created.
What You’re Breathing In
Chemical
150 Chemicals and 40 carcinogenic chemicals3
Biological
Viable bacteria and virus4
Physical
Ultra-fine particles similar to coal dust5
What You’re Breathing In
Chemical
150 Chemicals and 40 carcinogenic chemicals3
Biological
Viable bacteria and virus4
Physical
Ultra-fine particles similar to coal dust5
Why is Surgical Smoke
So Hazardous?
Surgical smoke is a dangerous by-product generated from the use of lasers, electro-surgical pencils, ultrasonic devices, and other surgical energy-based devices. As these instruments cauterize vessels and destroy (vaporize) tissue, fluid, and blood, a gaseous material known as surgical smoke is created.
The Impact of Surgical Smoke
Healthcare workers exposed
annually in the US alone6
+
27 - 30
Cigarettes OR staff
are exposed to daily7
2x
The number of respiratory
problems reported by
perioperative nurses compared
to the general population8
40 MPH
is the rate of speed that smoke particles can travel and be evenly distributed throughout the O.R.9
Take the First Step
in Going Smoke-Free
Taking your facility smoke-free may seem like an overwhelming project, but CONMED’s Clear the Air® program has the process down to a science. It is designed to ensure a seamless transition to a smoke-free operating room. Through this program, we offer a step-by-step process to help you achieve your smoke-free goals.
“CONMED’s Clear the Air® program is designed to help you meet your smoke evacuation goals. Now the best way to get started with that program is our first step, which is Education. The Clear the Air® CE Course on surgical smoke provides evidence-based insights on the hazards of surgical smoke and provides 2 contact hours to nurses and scrub techs.
How Has Surgical Smoke Impacted the Lives of Nurses around the Country
“I had not worked for about a month and then I went in [back into the OR] and was in high smoke producing cases all day long. At the end of the day, walking to my car, my chest hurt, I felt sick at my stomach and my throat burned and my nose burned."
“We knew that any heat generating device had a biproduct that was detrimental to our perioperative personnel, patients and our physicians in the operating room.”
"I felt betrayed. Why have I not been protected? I’ve been in the operating room for over 10 years as an operating room nurse... The research and evidence is out there, yet here we are every single day fighting an invisible enemy, without protection, without smoke evacuators."
“We knew that any heat generating device had a biproduct that was detrimental to our perioperative personnel, patients and our physicians in the operating room.”
Leaders in Surgical Smoke Management.
With the largest portfolio of surgical smoke management products
on the market, CONMED has a solution for you!
Leaders in Surgical Smoke Management.
With the largest portfolio of surgical smoke management products on the market, CONMED has a solution for you!
1McCormick, P. “Bovie Smoke: A perilous Plume.” AANS Neurosurgeon 17.1 (2008): 10-12. Web. March, 2016.
2Ball, K. “Management of Surgical Smoke in the Perioperative Setting.” AORN Annual Conference Presentation. Web. January, 2016.
3Barrett WL, Garber SM. Surgical Smoke: A review of the literature. Is this just a lot of hot air? Surg Endosc. 2003;17(6):979-87
4Hallmo P, Naess O. Laryngeal papillomatosis with human papillomavirus DNA contracted by a laser surgeon. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 1991;248(7):425-427.
5Baggish, M.S., Polesz, B.J., Joret, D., Williamsson, P. and Refai,A. (1991), Presence of human immunodeficiency virus DNA in las smoke. Lasers Surg. Med., 11:197-203, doi:10.1002/lsm.1900110302
6Laser/Electrosurgery Plume, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). osha.gov. March, 2017.
7Hill DS, O’Neill JK, Powell RJ, Oliver DW. Surgical smoke—a health hazard in the operating theatre: a study to quantify exposure and a survey of the use of smoke extractor systems in UK plastic surgery units. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2012; 65(7):911-916.
8Ball, K. “Management of Surgical Smoke in the Perioperative Setting.” AORN Annual Conference Presentation.
9Hill, Daniel S., et al. “Surgical Smoke – A Health Hazard in the Operating Theatre. A Study to Quantify Exposure and a Survey of the Use of Smoke Extractor Systems in UK Plastic Surgery Units.” Journal of Plastic Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery. (2012): 911-16.
*Paid CONMED consultant
© Copyright 2021 CONMED Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
© Copyright 2020 CONMED Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Start Your Smoke Free Journey Today
Start Your Smoke Free Journey Today
Start Your Smoke Free Journey Today
Start Your Smoke Free Journey Today
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