Surgical Smoke in Dermatology: Its Hazards and Management

Abstract

Surgical plume with vaporized tissue particles, pathogens, and toxic gases emanating during dermatosurgical procedures is an occupational hazard to the dermatosurgeon, and protective measures must be taken to prevent their inhalation. Smoke evacuators are devices that capture and filter the plume generated during electrosurgical procedures or laser procedures, thereby maintaining a safe environment for the surgical team and the patient. A smoke evacuation system should be appropriately selected depending on the need of the facility. The objective of this article is to outline the health hazards of the smoke by-product of electrosurgery and lasers and provide details about safety measures and smoke evacuation systems.

INTRODUCTION

Electrosurgical and laser procedures are regularly performed in a dermatology clinic and generate smoke that can be harmful to the doctor, nurses, and the patient. With the frequency of these procedures increasing every year and with mounting evidence about the hazards of surgical plume, maintaining a smoke-free environment is becoming very important. Surgical smoke comprising 95% water and 5% particulate matter is produced as a by-product when there is thermal destruction of target cells leading to rupture and release of cellular contents. It poses significant risk as a respiratory tract irritant and mutagen, and as a vector for infectious particles.[1] Surgical plume has been compared to smoking unfiltered cigarettes, with electrosurgical plume being twice as harmful as compared to lasers, hence making its complete evacuation necessary.[2] Although several guidelines and articles have been published about smoke evacuation in the Western literature, there is paucity of publications in Indian literature. This article aims at discussing methods and proposed strategies to minimize the hazards of surgical smoke.

RISKS OF SURGICAL SMOKE

Exposure to toxic organic compounds and infectious particles in surgical smoke can lead to burning and irritation in the eyes, pulmonary effects, risk of transmission of infection, and carcinogenesis. Table 1 shows the risks of surgical smoke.

Table 1.

Risks of surgical smoke

1. Unpleasant and noxious odor

2. Burning and irritation in the eyes

3. Acute and chronic inhalational injury to the lungs

4. Mutagenic effects of chemicals

5. Risk of transmission of infection

6. Deposition of particulate matter in tubings and machines causing corrosion and damage

7. Visual problems for the doctor

Lack of knowledge and underuse of protective equipment make doctors and health care providers with long-term exposure susceptible to its biohazards.[1] Particulate matter of the plume include both noninfectious and infectious matter and are discussed later:

1. Size

Around 77% of particulate matter within surgical smoke was found to be less than 1.1 µm in size. Electrosurgical devices and lasers create particles of roughly 0.07 and 0.31 µm, respectively. Deposition of particles in the bronchioles and alveoli can take place when the size is less than 2 µm, leading to chronic irritation, emphysema, interstitial pneumonia, and bronchitis. Standard surgical masks can filter particulate matter greater than 5 µm in size and hence do not provide any protection against electrosurgical and laser plume.[3,4,5,6] Table 2 depicts comparison between electrosurgical and laser plume.

Table 2.

Comparison of electrosurgical and laser plume

	Electrosurgical plume	Laser plume
Source	Electrodessication, electrocoagulation, electrofulguration, radiofrequency ablation	Excimer, argon krypton, carbon dioxide, Erbium:YAG, ruby, diode, dyes, Nd:YAG, Alexandrite
Mean diameter	<0.1 µm	˜0.3 µm
Plume produced on treating 1g of tissue	Equivalent to inhaling six unfiltered cigarettes	Equivalent to inhaling three unfiltered cigarettes
Chemicals found in significant concentrations	Benzene, ethyl benzene, xylene, styrene, carbon disulfide, and toluene	Acetonitrile, acrolein, ammonia, benzene, ethylene, and toluene

2. Odor

Tissue pyrolysis and destruction leads to release of toxic gases that impart a noxious odor to the surgical plume. Chemical contents of the electrocautery plume are mostly hydrocarbons, phenols, nitriles, and fatty acids. Some of these organic compounds such as acrylonitrile, benzene, butadiene, toluene, acrolein, and formaldehyde have been identified as carcinogens. Tissue oxygenation is affected adversely with compounds such as hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide. Effects of short-term exposure to acrylonitrile and benzene include eye irritation, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, weakness, and light headedness, whereas chronic exposure can result in higher incidence of cancer.[1,2,7,8,9] Carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde, benzene, and acrolein are also present in plume associated with ablative lasers.[10]

3. Viability and infectious hazards

Presence of infectious particles such as human papillomavirus and bacteria in surgical smoke has been studied with viral transmission being demonstrated in animal studies. Aerosolization of viral particles in the plume of CO₂-laser-treated warts has been confirmed as early as 1988 by Garden et al.[11] Two cases of laryngeal papillomatosis in health care professionals secondary to treatment of anogenital condyloma acuminata with electrodessication and laser have also been reported.[12,13] Viable bacteria such as Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, and Neisseria have also been detected in plume associated with laser resurfacing.[14] Presence of HIV proviral DNA was also reported in vaporous debris from CO₂-laser-treated HIV infected tissue culture pellets by Baggish et al.[15] Viable bacteria and viruses have been demonstrated on electrosurgical electrodes, thereby proving that the electrical discharge does not sterilize the electrode and is capable of creating an aerosol of blood and tissue droplets that can transfer infectious agents. An in vitro study has identified the presence of viable malignant cells in surgical smoke, thereby reflecting the importance of smoke evacuation and respiratory protection while treating cutaneous malignancies.[16]

The infectious and noninfectious hazards of surgical plume are enumerated in Tables 3 and 4, respectively.

Table 3.

Infectious hazards

The following infectious particles have been detected in surgical plume
Virus	Human papillomavirus
	HIV proviral DNA
Bacteria	Staphylococcus
	Corynebacterium
	Neisseria

Table 4.

Noninfectious hazards

1. Ocular	Irritation, can hinder surgeon’s view of the surgical site
2. Olfactory	Noxious odor
3. Respiratory	Rhinitis, asthma, bronchitis, alveolar congestion, interstitial pneumonia, emphysema
4. Carcinogenesis	Due to chronic exposure to chemicals
5. Cardiopulmonary disease	Due to chronic exposure
6. Others	Headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, light headedness

METHODS OF HAZARD REDUCTION

In practice, many dermatologists do not routinely adopt protective measures while using lasers or electrocautery despite conclusive evidence against its potential biohazards. Basic precautions include good general room ventilation, masks, suction, smoke evacuators, and protective eye glasses.

Protective measures can be divided into the following:

Respiratory protection

1. Standard surgical masks

Routine surgical masks are useful but not sufficient. They offer protection against particulate matter of size greater than 5 µm and have a reported filtration efficiency of 91.53%. Most of the particulate matter in surgical plume is less than 1.1 µm in size and hence high-filtration masks have been developed to offer more protection.

2. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) or laser masks

HEPA respirator masks such as N95 have a filtration efficiency of 99.93% and offer more protection in comparison to disposable surgical masks as they can filter submicrometer-sized particles. These can be used adequately against residual plume that escapes the smoke evacuation system and are not a replacement for smoke evacuation devices. A proper fitting mask that covers both the nose and mouth should be used.[17,18,19]

Exhaust ventilation procedures

General ventilation: General ventilation, also referred to as dilution ventilation, controls the environment by diluting and replacing contaminated air before concentration of chemicals reaches unacceptable levels. Mechanical ventilation by exhaust fans slowly removes contaminants dispersed in the air and is suited for procedures with low and uniform rate of smoke generation. Its disadvantage includes dispersion of particulate matter from the source into the working environment, thereby exposing the health care professional and patients to the hazardous plume and odor. It is best used in conjunction with smoke evacuation devices to remove surgical plume that may have escaped the capture device. General exhaust ventilation is depicted in Figure 1.

Figure 1.

General exhaust ventilation via exhaust fan

Local exhaust ventilation (LEV): LEV procedures are designed to capture and remove smoke from the site of emission, thereby minimizing exposure to contaminants. Figure 2 illustrates the principle of an LEV. The following systems work on the principle of LEV:

Figure 2.

Principle of local exhaust ventilation

1. Room suction systems

These can be used for procedures that produce small amounts of plume as the air movement generated may only be about 2 cubic feet per minute. A filter needs to be placed in the existing wall suction line between the suction canister and wall connection to purify the air; otherwise the surgical smoke can corrode the suction pipes and cause contamination. The in-line filter should be changed according to the manufacturer’s instructions and contaminated filters should be disposed properly.[20,21] Standard suction systems with in-line filters are an inexpensive method of surgical smoke evacuation in an outpatient setting where procedures of shorter duration generating small quantities of smoke are performed. Figure 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of the wall suction unit with an in-line filter.

Figure 3.

Schematic diagram of wall suction unit with an in-line filter

2. Smoke evacuator

A smoke evacuator is a system comprising a vacuum pump and filters that capture and purify surgical smoke generated during a procedure and return it to the operating room. It should be highly efficient in reduction of airborne particulate matter. It is necessary for procedures where larger amounts of smoke are produced as the air movement generated is about 35–50 cubic feet per minute. It is recommended for procedures involving verrucae, large epidermal nevi, laser ablation, and laser hair reduction. It comprises the following parts:

a. Suction unit or vacuum source

The suction power of a smoke-evacuating system is its ability to generate a threshold minimum volume of airflow. A minimum airflow of 0.012–0.017 m³/s was recommended by Hunter [22] for electrocautery smoke whereas a higher minimum airflow may be required for procedures like laser hair reduction creating larger volume of plume. The machine can have different types of pumps that determine the suction power generated by the smoke evacuator.[22,23] Types of pumps are as follows:

• I.Turbine pump (10 A): It moves air at 60L/min after a delay of 3s. There is no occlusion feature to shut off the unit even if the evacuation tubing gets clogged. More efficient pumps are now available.
• II.Rotary vein pump (2 A): This is a small powerful pump with suction five times greater than the turbine pump. It is more efficient in air movement and creates an instant negative pressure. It also shuts off the unit if the tubing gets occluded.

b. Filter

Filtration efficiency of a smoke evacuation system is very important. It depicts the number of particles that pass through the filter.

Types of filters include the following:

• I.Charcoal filter: Activated charcoal is capable of absorbing gas and vapor. It helps in elimination of strong-smelling gases. Coconut shell charcoal is better at absorbing particulate matter in comparison to wood-based charcoal due to greater internal pore area.
• II.HEPA: It is used to filter suspended compounds. It retains 0.3-µm-sized particles at an efficiency rate of 99.97%.
• III.Ultra low particulate air (ULPA): It is more powerful than HEPA and retains ultrafine particles sized 0.1 µm with an efficiency rate of 99.9999%. It is a depth filter where matter is filtered by different methods depending on the particle size. This type of filter is found in smoke evacuators today.

A combination of charcoal filter and ULPA filter provides the best filtration. The charcoal filter is used to remove the noxious odor and toxic gases whereas ULPA filter retains the ultrafine particles. The particulate matter is filtered by different methods depending on its size. Particles greater than 1 µm are directly intercepted as they are too large to pass through the filter. Inertial impaction helps in capture of particles sized 0.5–1 µm as they collide and stay over the fibers. Diffusional interception captures particles less than 0.5 µm in size as these particles owing to Brownian motion look out and stick to the fibers. The most penetrating particle is that of size 0.12 µm as it does not exhibit the random motion to be trapped by diffusional interception. HEPA filters are no longer adequate as they trap particles of size 0.3 µm and above.[21,23,24]

Change of filter: Most of the evacuation devices have an inbuilt alarm or an indicator light to signal a required change. A change of filter is mandated when the suction pressure decreases or there is a lingering odor in the air. The contaminated filter may be considered as infectious or regulated waste depending on the waste disposal protocol of the facility.[23]

c. Smoke tubing

These are available in varying sizes depending on the amount of smoke that needs to be evacuated. With the same suction strength, a tubing with a wider internal diameter may increase the airflow by 5–10%. A smooth inner lumen will further decrease the whistling noise produced by corrugated tubes.[25] Reducer fittings that connect a smaller suction tube attached with the electrosurgical instrument to a larger smoke evacuation tubing are also available.[23]

d. Inlet nozzle, smoke capture devices

The inlet nozzle of the tubing should be held close to the site of smoke generation to capture maximum plume. Many devices such as evacuation wands and pencils, which can attach to the electrosurgical and laser equipment, are available for thorough and adequate smoke capture. A 2.2-cm wand when placed at a distance of 7.5cm from the smoke source captured only 53% of the smoke in comparison to 99% capture when placed at 2.5cm.[25] A standard electrosurgical unit (ESU) pencil has an internal diameter of 1cm and incorporates the smoke tube for plume evacuation at the tissue impact site.[19] It activates when the ESU pencil is in use and unlike the traditional handheld nozzle does not have to be held by the surgical team members.

e. Others

Foot pedals can be used for turning the system on and off. Alternatively, automatic activation devices can be used, which turn on the evacuator when the electrosurgical or laser equipment is being used. Some systems also have an electronic control panel to facilitate and maintain functions.

Table 5 enumerates the importance of a smoke evacuator. The basic model of a smoke evacuator with an inlet, tubing, and suction unit is depicted in Figure 4.

Table 5.

Importance of a smoke evacuator

1. Captures the pollutants close to the source of emission

2. Prevents dispersion of particulate matter and contaminants in workplace air

3. Reduces unpleasant odor

4. Minimizes exposure of the health care professionals and the patient to contaminants

5. Keeps the surgical field clear

6. Prevents corrosion and damage to other equipment due to corrosive chemicals in surgical plume

7. Maintains a safe environment

Figure 4.

The basic model of a smoke evacuator with an inlet, tubing, and suction unit

3. Centralized smoke evacuation

The plume here is collected in a central area for filtration via tubing attached to different surgical rooms. This system involves regular cleaning and flushing of internal tubing to prevent accumulation of particulate debris and pathogen growth. A failure of the central system will render smoke evacuation ineffective in all the connected surgical rooms.[23] This system is best suited for an inpatient facility where multiple open procedures are performed and may not be ideal and cost-effective for an outpatient setting.

Evaluation of smoke evacuators before purchase[19,23,26,27,28,29]: Before purchasing a smoke evacuator, a comprehensive evaluation of the following should be performed. Criteria for a good smoke evacuator are enumerated in Table 6.

Table 6.

Criteria for a good smoke evacuator

1. Efficient filtration system

2. Capture velocity of 30.5–45.7 m/min

3. Compact size

4. Portable

5. Quiet

6. Cost effective

7. Easy maintenance

• 1.Filtration efficiency: Most current smoke evacuators use ULPA filters.
• 2.Flow rate: A minimum flow rate 0.012 m³/s is recommended and depends on the type of pump. A system with variable flow rate settings covers broad range of procedures.
• 3.Noise level: A noise level of 60 Db or less is recommended and depends on the size of the tubing and the condition of foam padding in the smoke evacuator. Corrugated tubes produce more noise.
• 4.Mobility: An easily mobile smoke evacuator can be moved from one room to another.
• 5.Cost-effectiveness: Disposables such as filters, tubing, and nozzles will have to be purchased on a continual basis. Economical replaceable prefilters are now available to minimize wear and tear of the main filtration unit. The cost may vary depending on the company and the type of smoke evacuator model chosen.
• 6.Maintenance: Maintenance should be simple and should be performed regularly as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
• 7.Supplies and accessories

The Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists guidelines for setting up a laser room and dermatosurgery theatre recommend use of surgical masks with a pore size of less than 1 µm, use of a smoke evacuator with a HEPA filter while treating verrucae or large epidermal nevi and an inlet nozzle with a capture velocity of 100–150 feet per minute held 2 inches above the operation site.[30,31]

Education

Awareness and knowledge are the keys in bringing about a change in the attitude of dermatologists toward the risk of exposure to noxious and hazardous surgical plume and their potential adverse effects. Incorporating the above subject in the residency curriculum will help in an understanding and promotion of safe smoke evacuation methods. Continuing education of the entire surgical team is a very important step in minimizing and eliminating surgical plume.[19]

CONCLUSION

Exposure to surgical plume has been found to have the same effect as chronic second-hand smoking. Despite the health hazards, standard of care and protective measures in dermatology clinics are not adequate. Objective data have confirmed the risk of direct physical injury, infection transmission, and mutagenesis in animals; more studies are required in human populations to investigate the aforementioned concerns. We recommend that prevention of inhalation of surgical plume should be of utmost importance to the dermatologist and the supporting staff. With mounting medicolegal awareness among patients, a minimum standard of care that reduces hazard exposure and transmission of infection has to be maintained while doing electrosurgery and laser procedures. Awareness and management strategies should be a part of the training curriculum for both doctors and the supportive health care providers. Smoke evacuators are a must for any dermatosurgical or laser clinic with easy, effective, and safe plume evacuation. The smoke evacuators available today are compact, portable, and easy to use. Although some systems may be expensive, they usually last for a long time with minimal maintenance.

In addition to smoke evacuation practices, high-filtration masks should also be worn by the surgical team as they offer superior protection compared to standard surgical masks. The smoke capture device should be held less than an inch away from the treatment site to achieve efficient evacuation. Standardized guidelines for surgical smoke evacuation should be laid down and followed strictly within the dermatology community with practices that are easy to implement and at the same time efficient in plume evacuation. A multidisciplinary approach with education of staff, good general ventilation, use of high-filtration masks, and a smoke evacuator is ideal. Hazard reduction practices that need to be implemented in a dermatologist’s clinic are enumerated in Table 7.

Table 7.

Hazard reduction practices to be implemented in dermatologist’s clinic

1. Adequate education and training of doctors and supportive staff

2. Determine the level of smoke exposure by approximating the amount of plume generated during procedures

3. Maintain good general ventilation in the clinic to dilute contaminants in the air in the absence of a smoke evacuation system

4. Proper fitting high-filtration masks to be used by the surgical team during procedures

5. A smoke evacuator should be used while doing procedures that generate plume. For example, viral warts, epidermal nevi, laser ablation, and laser hair reduction

6. The smoke capture device should be held less than an inch away from the source of emission to ensure efficient plume evacuation

7. To follow national minimum standard guidelines of care for setting up a laser room or dermatosurgery theatre

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.