Characterization of smoke generated during the use of surgical knife in laparotomy surgeries

The staff in hospitals is the high-risk group affected by indoor air pollution for operational reasons. However, there is a lack of relevant information and research on surgical smoke in Taiwan. This study analyses the substance of the smoke and develops relative strategies to prevent harm from the working place. This study aims to evaluate the surgical smoke generated during laparotomy and laparoscopic operation. The relationship between smoke and the risk of health-care workers was also discussed in order to set suitable solutions for smoke collection and emission. The study measured surgical smoke of 30 cases in operating rooms in three different hospitals, smoke was collected at different timings and different areas during the operation using a low-flow sampler. The concentration and accumulation number of size 0.3 μm suspended particles were the highest among all size of particles in different detection areas and timing. The concentration number of 0.3 μm and 0.5 μm particles reached the maximum after 10 min of electrosurgical treatment; however, the concentration number of 5 μm particles began to decrease after 5–15 min of the treatment. Besides, the cumulative particle numbers of 0.3 μm and 0.5 μm in laparoscopic operation were higher than those of laparotomy after 10 min of the treatment. This study suggests that surgical smoke prevention should use smoke evacuator; health-care workers should also wear a highly efficient tight seal-fit mask in the operating room to avoid damage to their health and cause chronic diseases. Implications: Indoor air pollution in medical institutions is a topic of less concern, and the health of healthcare workers is threatened by surgical smoke that generated during operations. This study measured and analyzed the harmful substances in the surgical smoke in the operating rooms of hospitals, and put forward the corresponding suggestions. In April 2018, legislators in Taiwan also convened a seminar on “Respiratory protection for operating room personnel in medical institutions”. The seminar applied the findings of this study and adopted the recommendations to improve related equipment and strategies in future plans.