Smoke Evacuation Promotes Nurse Health in the Operating Room

Surgeries often require electrocauterization devices that emit smoke from burned flesh. Emitted smoke contains volatile organic compounds and particulates including: Formaldehyde, Acetaldehyde, and Acetone. Continued, repetitive Inhalation of surgical smoke can cause health concerns like: Respiratory issues, Cardiovascular problems. Smoke evacuation systems remove many particulates from the OR, systems include: handheld smoke evacuation attached to electrocauterization devices, room-wide smoke evacuation. Use of both systems will reduce airborne particulates by 50-90%. Surgeons and OR staff, especially circulating nurses, will receive education and training on: surgeons: handheld devices, circulating RNs: room-wide systems. RNs will report how they feel and have blood tests to measure percentage of specified compounds.