What is Surgical Smoke Plume?

Smoke plume occurs when heat inducing devices such as lasers, electrosurgical units and ultrasonic scalpels are used on bodily tissue. Smoke plume is made up of 95% water which acts as a carrier and 5% cellular debris in the form of particulate matter. Particulate matter can contain: Viral DNA, Airborne infectious particles, viruses, odours, blood aerosols and tissue vapours.

The dangers of surgical smoke

One of the biggest risks for healthcare professionals in the workplace is from the inhalation of smoke plume. A recent survey in the USA showed nurses to have an increased rate of respiratory conditions than an average person from the general public, and in some cases, nurses showed twice the rate. This is due to being exposed to plume while working in the operation theatre.

If inhaled, particle deposits of cellular debris found in surgical smoke can form in the nose, throat and gas-exchange area of the lungs. Exposure can result in varying side effects, from headaches, dizziness, and eye irritation to more serious ailments from long term exposure such as:

• Acute and chronic inflammatory respiratory changes
• Hepatitis
• Anaemia
• Cardiovascular dysfunction
• Carcinogenesis
• Dermatitis

In addition, viral transmission is also a potential risk. Studies have shown that the presence of infectious particles such as Hepatitis, HPV and Staphylococcus can be found in surgical smoke from CO² Laser treatment. Risk is also present for patients during laparoscopic surgery, as smoke can be absorbed into the patient’s bloodstream.

For more information on the risks of surgical smoke see our white paper: The Risks of Surgical Smoke and The Importance of Smoke Evacuation

Our smoke evacuation system

There’s a growing awareness internationally of the dangers of smoke plume. Some countries have regulations in place that give clear recommendations for surgical smoke management. smoke evacuation units are widely considered to be the most effective form of protection against the dangers associated with smoke plume.

Recognising the importance of effective smoke evacuation within the medical sector, Walker Filtration’s Laservac 750™ is a highly efficient 3 stage filtration plume management system.

Laservac™ evolved from 30 years of research and working with manufacturers and users of medical laser and electrosurgical products. From which we created the Laservac 750™ Smoke Evacuation System, the safest and most effective way to protect medical staff and their patients and manage surgical smoke.

With self-contained filters for safe handling, filtration is reached using a three-stage filtration system with two individual filters and is 99.9999% efficient at 0.01 micron. Laservac™ also features a variable flow rate for different procedures and comes complete with a starter pack and a full range of accessories, providing a truly flexible smoke evacuation solution.

Find out more about the Laservac product here: Laservac Datasheet