Electromedical equipment, widely used in surgical procedures, generates a gaseous byproduct called surgical smoke (SS) that is potentially harmful to healthcare personnel in the operating theater. Surgical smoke evacuation devices have proven effective in limiting staff exposure but are not always adequately used in the operating room. The potential risks of such exposure could be better explored in the literature, and in-depth studies are lacking in the Italian setting.
Objective
To study individual health impact and knowledge by operating room staff regarding exposure to surgical smoke during professional activity.
Methods
Cross-sectional observational study on a convenience sample. All healthcare personnel working within the operating compartment of a public hospital in Lombardy, Northern Italy, were invited to answer a survey questionnaire created according to literature evidence.
Results
101 healthcare professionals responded; 91.1% reported one or more symptoms attributable to SS exposure. Surgical face masks were the most frequent devices against SS (75.2%). 44.6% of the sample did not know what devices are recommended against SS exposure.
Conclusions
Improving the healthcare professionals’ knowledge of the danger related to SS is crucial to protecting their health in the surgical compartment.
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