According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 51.4 million surgical procedures are performed in the US every year. Among these, many are electrical surgeries that involve cutting, coagulating, and destroying tissues using high-frequency alternating current. During this procedure, the use of surgical smoke evacuators is necessary according to the law. But what are surgical smoke evacuators and what role do they play in the OR?
The use of surgical smoke evacuators is necessary during electrosurgery
In this article, let us learn about surgical smoke evacuators and their significance in the OR. In addition, some of the top-quality evacuators have also been linked for the reader’s assistance.
What is a Surgical Smoke Evacuator?
A surgical smoke evacuator, also known as a plume evacuator, is a medical device that is used during different laser or electrosurgical procedures to remove the generated smoke. These systems are necessary as the removal of smoke ensures the safety of the patient as well as the surgical team.
How Does a Surgical Smoke Evacuator Work?
The surgical smoke evacuators come with a suction unit, a filter, as well as tubing. When these are turned on, the suction unit starts pulling the smoke away from the surgical area. This smoke is passed through the tubing and is filtered to separate the particulate matter.
The filters used in surgical smoke evacuators are important as these are responsible for cleaning the smoke. Two kinds of filters are available to choose from. These include HEPA or high-efficiency particulate air filters as well as ULPA or ultra-low penetration air filters.
Need of Surgical Smoke Evacuators in OR
When it comes to using surgical smoke evacuators in the operating rooms or the OR, several benefits are to be extracted from them. Some of these include the following:
Prevention of Smoke Hazard
As the production of surgical smoke during electrosurgical procedures is inevitable, exposure to it can have multiple effects on the patient as well as the healthcare providers. For instance, the smoke often leads to difficulty in respiration, headaches, as well as eye irritation.
This is because the smoke contains hazardous substances including bioaerosols, toxic gases, as well as some infectious particles as well. In addition, vaporized blood, tissues, live or dead cellular materials, as well as other contaminants. Using surgical smoke evacuators in such cases ensures that these harmful chemicals are neither inhaled nor come in contact with the skin.
Prevention of Infections
As surgical smoke comes from the patient’s burnt skin or body areas, this is often concentrated with different kinds of viruses and bacteria. These include:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
- E. coli
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Hepatitis viruses
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- SARS-CoV-2 as well as its variants
In addition, the smoke is also rich in particles that are less than 100 nanometers and are prone to inhalation. These airborne pathogens and other particles, when inhaled, can become the cause of severe infections and cause symptoms such as:
- Sore throat
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Drowsiness
- Rhinitis
- Sneezing
Therefore, by employing surgical smoke evacuators, this smoke is immediately taken out of the operating room. As a result, the risk of getting infected is minimized.
Using smoke evacuators increases the service life of the equipment
Achievement of a Clear Field
Another benefit of using surgical smoke evacuators during surgery is that they clear the smoke from the target skin area under surgery. This way, the device allows the healthcare provider to have a clear field of view. As a result, the surgical team can visualize the target area easily which makes the procedure quick and safe for the patient.
Increased Equipment Service Life
The instruments used during electrosurgical procedures are often expensive. However, these come with a claim of longer service life given the fact that they are maintained well. A common issue that reduces the overall service life of the surgical equipment is their frequent and prolonged exposure to surgical smoke.
This exposure results in the corrosion of the equipment leading to their early damage and need for a replacement. Here, employing the surgical smoke evacuators serves as a way to keep the equipment intact and usable for multiple surgical procedures.
Elevated OR Safety
Another important benefit that is achieved by using surgical smoke evacuators in the operating rooms is the enhanced safety of the area. This is because the surgical smoke can catch fire if the skin has any alcohol-based preparations on it. This way, the alcohol molecules come into the smoke and elevate the risk of fire accidents.
Improved Air Quality in the OR
Another benefit of using surgical smoke evacuators in the operating room is that they can improve the air quality of the area. As the surgical smoke not only poses a threat to the healthcare team, it also has an unpleasant smell. By constantly removing it, a good environment with agreeable air quality can be achieved within the OR.
Compliance with Regulations
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) legislation, it is mandatory to manage surgical smoke by employing proper evacuation systems. Devices like surgical smoke evacuators come in handy in such cases while enacting the legislation.
Electrosurgical procedures become safe when surgical smoke evacuators are employed
Surgical Smoke Evacuators: Frequently Asked Questions
When it comes to using surgical smoke evacuators, there are many questions that are asked regarding their use, effectiveness, as well as capacity. The following section covers some of the frequently asked questions about the device:
1. Is surgical smoke too dangerous?
Yes, surgical smoke is dangerous for inhalation as well as for skin contact. This can cause breathing issues as well as infections as the smoke also contains several pathogenic entities.
2. Are smoke evacuators effective at removing all particles?
The UPLA filters present in the surgical smoke evacuators are effective at removing all the particles present in the surgical smoke. These include particles up to 0.3 microns or larger.
3. Can standard suction systems remove surgical smoke?
Although standard suction systems can be used for removing surgical smoke, these are not suitable for handling large amounts of smoke as generated during an electrosurgical procedure.
4. How to dispose of the used surgical smoke evacuator filters?
The filters of the surgical smoke evacuators are their main component as these are responsible for filtering the smoke. With their extensive use, these become ineffective and need to be replaced. These filters should be disposed of as hazardous waste.
5. After how many days the filters of the surgical smoke evacuators should be changed?
The change of filters of the surgical smoke evacuators depends upon the type of filter as well as the number of procedures conducted. In general, UPLA filters often need replacement after 90 days. However, if the filter has become smelly, it should be changed early.
Smoke evacuators are necessary as they ensure the safety of the healthcare team
Surgical Smoke Evacuators at Health Supply 770: Features and Specifications
Surgical smoke evacuators are the devices that are employed for clearing out surgical smoke from the operating room during electrical procedures. The device has a simple construction and allows the healthcare providers as well as the patients to remain safe. In addition, the risk of infections is also minimized.
When it comes to learning about 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 powerful smoke evacuation systems that are portable. These have been designed in a way that their compact shape allows the healthcare staff to move them around with ease. The turbo power suction offers heavy smoke clearance.
Moreover, these ConMed PSWTURBO_AS PlumeSafe Turbo surgical smoke evacuators have an interactive LCD to set the features. The filter tracking technology enables the device to automatically check the life of the device filter.
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 portable and lightweight systems that are easy to carry around and can be fitted on a tabletop. The product comes with an LCD that indicates the filter life as well as the suction power. The flow is adjustable which means the suction power can be changed in increments of 10%.
Moreover, these ConMed PPS604 Buffalo Filter Porta PlumeSafe 604 surgical smoke evacuators offer quiet operation and, therefore, do not disturb the patients. The filter tracking technology indicates when the device filters need replacement.
Furthermore, these ConMed PPS604 Buffalo Filter Porta PlumeSafe 604 surgical smoke evacuators are ideal for use in non-acute care facilities as well as in veterinary units. The interface is user-friendly. The device can also be turned on and off using EZLink to enhance the filter life.
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 are products that are all-in-one tools for managing surgical smoke. The device has Safeport technology as well as a filter life-tracking system. The occlusion warning feature indicates to the healthcare staff when the device is not working.
Moreover, these ConMed Buffalo Filter VisiClear surgical smoke evacuators also have a one-touch programmable procedure mode that allows open tubing, laparoscopic procedures, as well as an electrosurgical pencil.
Furthermore, the device can be employed for capturing and filtering particulate matter, smoke odor, surgical plumes, as well as other hazardous substances such as infectious agents. These ConMed Buffalo Filter VisiClear surgical smoke evacuators offer a 30 cfm or 839 lpm flow rate along with 150 mmHg vacuum static suctioning.
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 are ideal for conducting laser surgeries. These have a simple design that operates quietly and does not cause much noise. The unique 3-port filter allows the attachment of the device with different accessories or tube sets during different medical needs.
Moreover, these Buffalo Filter ViroVac surgical smoke evacuators also have a button design LED display that is easy to navigate. The covered filter ports add to the safety of the system. Furthermore, the device also offers a variable filter life of up to 35 hours.
*Note: The prices mentioned in the article are taken from the Health Supply 770 website. These may vary over time.
Surgical smoke evacuators have made electrical surgeries safer
The 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
Electrical surgeries or electrosurgeries are procedures that involve the use of high-frequency electric current to cut or destroy the body tissues. As the procedure involves the burning of the body tissues, surgical smoke containing cellular debris, pathogenic entities, and other hazardous chemicals is generated.
To remove this surgical smoke, surgical smoke evacuators have been introduced. Although their invention and implementation are not new, the devices have been made mandatory in the operating rooms in the recent past. This way, the safety of the patient as well as the healthcare staff is ensured. Moreover, the device renders the environment in the OR clean and, therefore, leads to improved air quality.
As 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.
References
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/inpatient-surgery.htm
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.
