Protection measures beyond the scrubs

Picture an old-fashioned operating room from the early Victorian era. The patient is screaming in pain since there’s no anaesthesia available. The surgeon is wearing a dark coat, stained with pus and blood from previous operations and his blood-stained hands are holding oft-used, never-cleaned instruments. He’s completely unaware of the need to protect himself and his patient from blood-borne and airborne pathogens.

Today’s ultramodern operating rooms bear little resemblance to that. Anaesthesia is carefully administered, surgical staff wear sterile gowns, gloves and masks, and sterile instruments are used for each patient.?

It’s all done to reduce the risk of transmitting infection. But is it enough??

The risk of surgical plume

Modern surgery frequently relies on thermal energy devices such as lasers, ultrasonics, electrosurgery and cautery devices. These devices have many benefits but they also produce vaporous plume, which poses a hazard to surgical staff.??

Surgical plume is a noxious, odorous by-product resulting from surgical intervention with tissue. It is considered hazardous because it:?

• Can obscure the tissue, creating some risk to the patient
• Releases chemical and bacteriological matter that can include:?

It’s been estimated that 1 gram of surgical plume is as toxic as smoking 3-6 cigarettes. In the course of a typical procedure, surgical staff may be exposed to several grams of surgical plume. During a typical shift, you might participate in 5 procedures involving thermal energy. That could mean you’re unwittingly breathing in the equivalent of 20-30 cigarettes each day.?

And it has consequences.?

Exposure to surgical plume may cause symptoms such as:?

• Airway inflammation
• Hypoxia/dizziness
• Coughing
• Headaches
• Tearing

And it may be implicated in the development of conditions such as:?

• Hepatitis
• Asthma
• Pulmonary congestion
• Chronic bronchitis
• Carcinoma
• Emphysema
• HIV/AIDS

Improving the environment for OR personnel

Of course, there are ways to reduce exposure to surgical plume – but they’re not always used. One nurse interviewed by the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) estimated that smoke evacuators were used in less than a third of cases because staff found the tools bulky and loud. They wanted something that wouldn’t be in the way.?

That’s why M?lnlycke’s plume evacuation pencil was invented.

Minimised plume exposure and clear site visualisation

M?lnlycke’s plume evacuation pencil helps to protect both patients and staff.?

It features:?

• A light-weight, slim design with integrated telescopic function for both deep and shallow incisions
• Very high suction capacity (85 l/min) to minimise plume exposure and provide rapid visualisation of the operative site
• Sustainable materials free from DEPH and PVC?

The plume evacuation pencil is available in your ProcedurePak? custom packs or can be single packed.??

If you’d like to learn more, please talk to your M?lnlycke sales rep.

Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals.?

Some links provided direct you to websites outside of Australia and New Zealand.

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References

• Royal College of Surgeons of England, Frock coats to scrubs: a story of surgical attire, https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/library-and-publications/library/blog/frock-coats-to-scrubs/, [Accessed 29 January 2024]
• M?lnlycke, Surgical plume handbook: Your guide to safer practice, https://www.molnlycke.com/contentassets/a04b5c09f6a942e2a88690d02701b27a/plume-pen---handbook---brochure---2021hqim002715.pdf, [Accessed 29 January 2024]
• ?AORN Outpatient Surgery Magazine, Keep your staff safe, https://www.aorn.org/outpatient-surgery/article/2018-March-keep-your-staff-safe, [Accessed 29 January 2024]