The Hazards of Surgical Smoke Not to be Sniffed At!

Abstract

This article is based on a presentation given at Congress 2001 in Harrogate. It focuses on the risks to perioperative team members arising from the production of smoke during electrosurgical and laser procedures. It identifies the sources and nature of the risks, the failure of masks to provide adequate protection and suggests the standards that need to be set to reduce the risks.