Surgical Smoke and Biological Symptoms in Healthcare Professionals and Patients: A Systematic Review

Guidelines in Practice: Surgical Smoke Safety

“…Results of a 2022 systematic literature review showed that surgical smoke may affect both personnel and patients 16 . Exposed individuals can then develop symptoms and disease processes that include dizziness and drowsiness; coughing, sneezing, and throat irritation; discomfort from odor; rhinitis; eye irritation and lacrimation; headache, nausea, and vomiting; weakness; asthma and chronic bronchitis; and histopathological alteration of nasal mucosa 16 …”

“…15 Results of a 2022 systematic literature review showed that surgical smoke may affect both personnel and patients. 16 Exposed individuals can then develop symptoms and disease processes that include…”

“…• histopathological alteration of nasal mucosa. 16 In a two-phase study of 30 patients' perception of surgical smoke, all 30 patients underwent a Mohs procedure without smoke evacuation during the first phase and reported smelling a burning odor during the procedure; two-thirds of the patients found the smell to be unpleasant. 17 During the second study phase, which included primary closure or a skin flap or graft, surgeons used standard wall suction to capture smoke.…”

Surgical smoke and occupational health

“…Surgical smoke is generated when using electrocautery, lasers and ultrasonic devices that cuts and coagulates various tissues and are used during surgical procedures. This smoke is formed by incomplete cauterization of tissues and contains toxic gases that can accumulate in the form of living or dead organic material ( 1 ), causing harmful effects to the health of those who inhale it. Statistical data suggest that each year in the United States around 500,000 professionals, including surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologists, are exposed to surgical smoke hazards in operating rooms and such exposures cumulate over their lifetimes ( 2 ).…”

“…The most commonly physical harm and symptoms in the scientific literature associated with surgical smoke exposure includes head and throat pain, coughing, eye tearing, eye irritation and mucosal diseases ( 1 ). In addition, most health professionals are unaware that exposure to surgical smoke can be equivalent to the consumption of 27 to 30 unfiltered cigarettes ( 10 ), and the biological effects of exposure to surgical smoke have been a cause for concern and discussion by several international institutions for directly interfering with the health of health professionals, being linked to the risk of developing chronic respiratory occupational diseases and cancer, in addition to interfering with patient safety.…”