Health risk to medical personnel of surgical smoke produced during laparoscopic surgery

• Authors: Miłosz Dobrogowski , Wiktor Wesolowski , Małgorzata Kucharska , Katarzyna Paduszyńska , Agnieszka Dworzyńska , Wiesław Szymczak , Andrzej Sapota , Lech Pomorski

Abstracts

EN

Objectives During laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the removal of the gall bladder, pyrolysis occurs in the peritoneal cavity. Chemical substances which are formed during this process escape into the operating room through trocars in the form of surgical smoke. The aim of this study was to identify and quantitatively measure a number of selected chemical substances found in surgical smoke and to assess the risk they carry to medical personnel. Material and Methods The study was performed at the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Provincial Specialist Hospital in Zgierz between 2011 and 2013. Air samples were collected in the operating room during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Results A complete qualitative and quantitative analysis of the air samples showed a number of chemical substances present, such as aldehydes, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, ozone, dioxins and others. Conclusions The concentrations of these substances were much lower than the hygienic standards allowed by the European Union Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC). The calculated risk of developing cancer as a result of exposure to surgical smoke during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is negligible. Yet it should be kept in mind that repeated exposure to a cocktail of these substances increases the possibility of developing adverse effects. Many of these compounds are toxic, and may possibly be carcinogenic, mutagenic or genotoxic. Therefore, it is necessary to remove surgical smoke from the operating room in order to protect medical personnel.

Keywords

EN

smoke; exposure; volatile organic compounds; dioxins; health risk; laparoscopic cholecystectomy; pyrolysis

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2015
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 831-840

Dates

published

2015

Contributors

author

Miłosz Dobrogowski

• Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland (Department of General and Oncological Surgery)

author

Wiktor Wesolowski

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Chemical Hazard)

author

Małgorzata Kucharska

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Chemical Hazard)

author

Katarzyna Paduszyńska

• Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland (Department of General and Oncological Surgery)

author

Agnieszka Dworzyńska

• Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland (Department of General and Oncological Surgery)

author

Wiesław Szymczak

• University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland (Institute of Psychology)

author

Andrzej Sapota

• Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland (Department of Toxicology and Bromatology)

author

Lech Pomorski

• Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland (Department of General and Oncological Surgery)

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00374

Biblioteka Nauki

2177163