The utility of local smoke evacuation in reducing surgical smoke exposure in spine surgery: a prospective self-controlled study

• Published in: The spine journal 2020-02, Vol.20 (2), p.166-173
• Main Authors: Liu, Ning, Filipp, Nick, Wood, Kirkham B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Exposure control; Local evacuation ventilation; Smoke evacuator; Spine surgery; Surgical smoke; Surgical smoke pencil
• ISSN: 1529-9430; 1878-1632
• DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2019.09.014

Exposure to surgical smoke remains a potential occupational health concern to spine operating room personnel. Using a smoke evacuator (local exhaust ventilation) is currently regarded as a primary means of protection, yet few studies have evaluated its utility in actual surgeries. To examine the utility of two common types of local smoke evacuators, a para incisional evacuator and a smoke evacuation pencil, in reducing surgical smoke exposure in spine surgery. A prospective self-controlled study. After the pre-estimation of sample size, 51 consecutive spine surgeries (25 and 26 patients using the para incisional smoke evacuator and the smoke evacuation pencil, respectively) were enrolled between February 2018 and March 2019. Two outcome measures were used to evaluate the level of surgical smoke exposure, which was defined as the concentration of ultrafine smoke particles in the air (number of particles per cm3, ppc) around the operating table: (a) the average smoke level was the arithmetic mean of all measurements recorded during the surgery; and (b) the peak smoke level was the highest measurement recorded. Consecutive surgeries that involved bilateral symmetrical surgical exposure of the spine via a posterior midline incision were evaluated. Cauterized smoke was evacuated by two smoke evacuators: a “para incisional evacuator,” which used a flat broad suction pad positioned immediately adjacent to the incision (25 patients), and a “surgical smoke evacuation pencil” which is an incorporated part of the electrocautery (26 patients). The level of smoke exposure was measured separately when surgically exposing the two sides of the spine: starting with one side (determined randomly) with the smoke evacuator being turned on and, then, the other side with the smoke evacuator off. The results were compared between the two sides. The para incisional smoke evacuator significantly reduced the average smoke level by an average of 59.7% (287 [interquartile range {IQR}: 126, 526] vs. 1,177 [IQR: 395, 2,702], p