Evaluation of a smoke evacuator used for laser surgery

Abstract

A preliminary study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of a smoke evacuation system used in laser surgery. A 30 W medical CO2 continuous wave (CW) laser was used to make cuts in a pork chop to simulate smoke production during laser surgery. A commercially available smoke evacuation system was used to control the smoke from the simulated surgery. The smoke concentration was measured at 6 in and at 3 and 4 ft from site of laser interaction. The nozzle of the smoke evacuator was located at distances of 2, 6, and 12 in from the surgical site to measure the relative effectiveness of the control. Complete control of smoke was achieved when the nozzle was located at 2 in, but significant amounts of smoke escaped when the nozzle was located at 6 and 12 in. Suggestions for the use of the smoke evacuation system and areas for further study are given.

Treatment of verruca vulgaris and condyloma acuminatum with lasers

“…An assistant should hold the smoke evacuator tube as close to the laser impact site as possible and be no more than 1 cm away (Fig. Moving the smoke evacuator tube from 1 to 2 cm away causes a 50% reduction in smoke evacuation efficiency (35). Moving the smoke evacuator tube from 1 to 2 cm away causes a 50% reduction in smoke evacuation efficiency (35).…”

Professional risks when carrying out cytoreductive surgery for peritoneal malignancy with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC): A French multicentric survey

“…However, despite the increase in popularity of these complex procedures there are no specific recommendations concerning either environmental contamination risk management or personal protective equipment (PPE) of the staff. In particular, surgical smoke poses a potential hazard for the operating room staff [3][4][5][6], and the handling of concentrated doses of chemotherapeutic agents is unusual and its consequent risks unknown. To address the need for standardised practices, we began by using the French network for the treatment of rare peritoneal malignancies and peritoneal carcinomatosis (BIG-RENAPE) [7] to administer a survey regarding the operating and organisational methods of all French teams currently performing HIPEC procedures.…”

Effect of smoke evacuation on limiting thermal damage when using the carbon dioxide laser for cutaneous surgery

“…Other workers have shown that for efficient smoke evacuation the position of the tip of the smoke evacuator must be no greater than 2" from the point of lasing. 5 We feel that this is most successfully achieved by incorporating a smoke evacuator in the handpiece of the laser. However, we have noted in designing such a system that the position of the evacuator on the handpiece is critical in that it is possible for the beam to be disrupted by the smoke if the angle of evacuation is too acute.…”