Electrosurgeries are extensively performed in various healthcare departments, including dermatology, gynecology, and ophthalmology, among others. These involve cutting, coagulating, and destroying tissues using high-frequency electrical current. As a result, toxic surgical smoke is produced that affects the environment in multiple ways. Considering its harms, the use of different kinds of surgical smoke evacuators, including buffalo surgical smoke evacuators, has been made mandatory.
Dermatological surgeries require the use of surgical smoke evacuators
In this article, let us learn about buffalo surgical smoke evacuators and their usage in the OR. In addition, some of the top-quality evacuators have also been linked for the reader’s assistance.
What is a Buffalo Surgical Smoke Evacuator?
A buffalo surgical smoke evacuator is a medical device designed to capture and filter the smoke and aerosols generated during electrosurgery. The device draws the smoke from the target area and provides a clear field of view to the surgical team.
Components of Buffalo Surgical Smoke Evacuators
The buffalo surgical smoke evacuators have three main parts:
- A suction unit
- A filter
- A tubing or a wand
The tubing is placed near the target area that is being operated. It directs the smoke into the suction unit where the filter separates the toxic and pathogenic substances from it.
How to Use Buffalo Surgical Smoke Evacuators in the OR?
When it comes to using buffalo surgical smoke evacuators in the operating room, the given procedure should be followed to have a step-by-step understanding of the process:
Prepare the Device
The first step of using buffalo surgical smoke evacuators is to prepare them for the operation. This is done by connecting the device’s power cord to the grounded outlet. Also, it is essential to make sure that the system is powered on and the touch display is illuminated.
To activate the buffalo surgical smoke evacuator, an on/off button is attached to the device control panel. However, some models either have a foot switch or an automatic activation feature that gets triggered by an electrosurgical device.
Adjust the Suction Power
As these buffalo surgical smoke evacuators use suctioning for removing the surgical smoke from the target area, their suction level can be adjusted depending on the type of surgery as well as the amount of smoke generated. It is recommended to start with the lowest possible setting and then increase the suction power as necessary.
This setting can be done by using the suction control buttons which offer adjustment of the suction level as well as the airflow. In addition, it is also necessary to position the tubing properly so that an injury to the patient can be prevented.
Check the Filter Life
The buffalo surgical smoke evacuators have a filter in them that clears out the particulate matter and pathogenic entities from the smoke. Usually, the device has a ULPA or ultra-power particulate air filter that can trap particles up to 0.012 microns with 99.99995 accuracy.
As these filters only last up to 90 days when employed in buffalo surgical smoke evacuators, their timely replacement is necessary. Therefore, checking the filter life before starting the procedure is necessary. This can be done by checking the filter life indicator on the control panel.
Operate the Buffalo Surgical Smoke Evacuators
Now when the device is ready to employ during the surgery, adjust the placement of the tubing or wand close to the target tissue. This will help the device to suck the smoke or plume as soon as it is generated. Once the smoke is suctioned, it is drawn into the buffalo surgical smoke evacuator for filtration.
Smoke evacuators manage the smoke produced by using electrical devices used for surgery
Benefits of Using Buffalo Surgical Smoke Evacuators in OR
The buffalo surgical smoke evacuators are beneficial in the operating rooms in several ways. Some of these include the following:
Easy Visualization of the Target Area
As the buffalo surgical smoke evacuators remove the surgical smoke from the target area, a clear field of view is achieved. This enhances the safety of the procedure as the smoke does not create fog to block the view.
Improved Patient and Surgical Team Safety
The buffalo surgical smoke evacuators increase the safety of the patient as well as the surgical team as they remove the toxic smoke from the operating room. This way, the plume that contains toxic gases, bioaerosols, vaporized blood, tissues, live or dead cellular materials, as well as infectious agents does not come in contact with the staff and the patient. Hence, problems like eye irritation, headaches, and difficulty in respiration are prevented.
Reduced Risk of Infections
The surgical plume is known to have many different kinds of bacteria and viruses that primarily come from the burnt skin. These include:
- Hepatitis viruses
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- SARS-CoV-2 as well as its variants
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
- E. coli
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
These pathogens, if inhaled, can initiate an infectious disease either to the patient or the healthcare staff that could put an additional burden on the healthcare system. Therefore, the buffalo surgical smoke evacuators remove these pathogens as well. As a result, the risk of getting an infection is significantly reduced.
Added Years to the Equipment Services Life
The surgical equipment used in the operating rooms is often costly. Therefore, the target is to use the systems for as long as they keep on producing the required outcomes. However, the exposure to the surgical smoke often reduces the service life of the equipment. By removing the plume using buffalo surgical smoke evacuators, this overall usage time can be increased.
Several skin treatments use electrical current that generates smoke
Using Buffalo Surgical Smoke Evacuators: Safety Tips
While using buffalo surgical smoke evacuators, it is important to remain safe and keep the device in good shape to increase its service life. To do so, the following tips should be kept in mind:
- Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions while using the buffalo surgical smoke evacuators. If the usage guidelines are not provided, follow the step-by-step procedure given in this article.
- Buffalo surgical smoke evacuators come with filters that need timely replacement. The system will indicate when the replacement becomes necessary. Do not keep using the same filter for too long as it renders the evacuation process ineffective.
- Never use the buffalo surgical smoke evacuators near flammable and explosive gases.
- It is recommended to use the EZlink feature that allows the activation and deactivation of the buffalo surgical smoke evacuator. This way, the device does not remain switched on when not in use.
- Never place the tubing or the wand directly on the tissues as it elevates the risk of injury.
- When the use of buffalo surgical smoke evacuators is done, remove the switch cables to avoid tripping hazards.
Surgical Smoke Evacuators at Health Supply 770: Features and Specifications
Surgical smoke evacuators are the systems that are employed for removing the surgical plume from the area being operated using laser or electrical current. During these procedures, the cutting or burning of the skin generates smoke that needs management. Here, the role of buffalo surgical smoke evacuators becomes significant.
When it comes to learning about the buffalo surgical smoke evacuators, it is also essential to look into some of the products that many brands manufacture. Some of these well-known brands are also available at Health Supply 770 and have been detailed below along with their features and purchase links:
ConMed PSWTURBO_AS PlumeSafe Turbo Surgical Smoke Evacuator EACH
ConMed PSWTURBO_AS PlumeSafe Turbo Surgical Smoke Evacuator EACH
US$3,769.99
Product Details
ConMed PSWTURBO_AS PlumeSafe Turbo surgical smoke evacuators are portable systems that are powerful in terms of evacuating smoke even in high concentrations. The device is small in size and has a compact shape that eases its movement from one operating room to another. The suctioning system is turbo powered which makes the system capable of handling thick smoke as well.
Moreover, these ConMed PSWTURBO_AS PlumeSafe Turbo surgical smoke evacuators have a filter tracking technology that lets the user know when the filter needs replacement. This way, the device efficiency is enhanced. The features can also be set easily due to the interactive LCD that comes with the device.
ConMed PPS604 Buffalo Filter Porta PlumeSafe 604 Surgical Smoke Evacuator EACH
ConMed PPS604 Buffalo Filter Porta PlumeSafe 604 Surgical Smoke Evacuator EACH
US$1,844.99
Product Details
ConMed PPS604 Buffalo Filter Porta PlumeSafe 604 surgical smoke evacuators are lightweight and portable systems that occupy a small space in the operating room. These have an interactive LCD that indicates all the features as well as the instructions needed to be followed for using the evacuator. The filter life is also displayed to alert the user regarding its replacement due to the filter tracking technology of these smoke evacuators. As for the suction power, it is adjustable and can be elevated in increments of 10%.
Moreover, these ConMed PPS604 Buffalo Filter Porta PlumeSafe 604 surgical smoke evacuators can be operated without noise. This is helpful as neither the patient is disturbed nor the focus of the surgical team is diverted.
Furthermore, these ConMed PPS604 Buffalo Filter Porta PlumeSafe 604 surgical smoke evacuators have an EZlink feature that turns the device off to save power as well as to increase the filter life. These devices are employed in veterinary units and almost all non-acute care facilities.
ConMed Buffalo Filter VisiClear Surgical Smoke Evacuator EACH
ConMed Buffalo Filter VisiClear Surgical Smoke Evacuator EACH
US$4,184.99 – $4,382.49
Product Details
ConMed Buffalo Filter VisiClear surgical smoke evacuators come with a filter life-tracking feature as well as Safeport technology. These indicate to the surgical team if the device filter is not functional and needs replacement. In addition, an occlusion warning is also given if the system stops working. The device is an all-in-one system for the management of surgical smoke due to these features.
Moreover, these ConMed Buffalo Filter VisiClear surgical smoke evacuators are extensively used in procedures like open tubing, laparoscopic surgeries, as well as electrosurgical pencil processes due to their one-touch programmable procedure mode.
Buffalo Filter ViroVac Surgical Smoke Evacuator EACH
Buffalo Filter ViroVac Surgical Smoke Evacuator EACH
US$1,779.88 – $1,939.88
Product Details
Buffalo Filter ViroVac surgical smoke evacuators come with a unique 3-port filter that connects the system with different accessories or tube sets. The device is easy to use and is widely employed for laser-based surgeries.
Moreover, these Buffalo Filter ViroVac surgical smoke evacuators are easy to use due to their two-button design LED display that eases navigation during operation. The variable filter life is up to 35 hours. Additionally, the system has been made more secure due to its covered filter ports.
*Note: The prices mentioned in the article are taken from the Health Supply 770 website. These may vary over time.
The use of smoke evacuators ensures personnel safety during surgeries
The buffalo surgical smoke evacuators mentioned in this article, along with many other medical supplies, can be purchased from Health Supply 770, a reliable name when it comes to medical products. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee and provide your products to you in the shortest possible time. Click the link at the end of the article to check the wide range of surgical smoke evacuators.
Conclusion
During an electrosurgery, the burning of skin tissue is inevitable. As a result, smoke is produced that is toxic due to the aerosolized blood, body fluids, cellular components, etc. When exposed to this smoke, the patients as well as the healthcare providers become at high risk of several diseases. As a smoke management tool, the use of buffalo surgical smoke evacuators has been made mandatory.
The buffalo surgical smoke evacuators solve this problem by suctioning the smoke out of the area under surgery. The device has a simple construction and is easy to use. According to the OSHA legislation, it has become mandatory to use different kinds of evacuators including buffalo surgical smoke evacuators while performing surgery.
As buffalo surgical smoke evacuators are necessary items in healthcare facilities, these should be bought in bulk to accommodate extensive use. For purchasing surgical smoke evacuators and their related products, reliable vendors like Health Supply 770 should be approached. They ensure the provision of quality products along with satisfactory services.
PhD Scholar (Pharmaceutics), MPhil (Pharmaceutics), Pharm D, B. Sc.
Uzma Zafar is a dedicated and highly motivated pharmaceutical professional currently pursuing her PhD in Pharmaceutics at the Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab. With a comprehensive academic and research background, Uzma has consistently excelled in her studies, securing first division throughout her educational journey.
Uzma’s passion for the pharmaceutical field is evident from her active engagement during her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) program, where she not only mastered industrial techniques and clinical case studies but also delved into marketing strategies and management skills.
