Surgical smoke

Surgical smoke is a gaseous byproduct generated during the thermal destruction of tissue by surgical instruments such as lasers, electrosurgical units, and ultrasonic devices (NIOSH, 2023). It consists of a complex mixture of water vapor and particulate matter, which includes toxic chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, and hydrogen cyanide, as well as cellular debris and potentially infectious biological agents (AORN, 2022). While not a therapeutic target for drug intervention, surgical smoke is a well-documented occupational hazard for perioperative staff, including surgeons and nurses (Limchantra et al., 2019). Chronic inhalation of these plumes is associated with various health issues, ranging from acute respiratory and eye irritation to long-term risks such as pulmonary inflammation and potential carcinogenesis (Mowbray et al., 2013). Because it is an environmental contaminant rather than a biological receptor or enzyme, there are no drugs designed to target it; instead, mitigation relies on engineering controls like smoke evacuation systems (CDC, 2020). The composition of the smoke varies significantly depending on the tissue type and the specific energy modality used during the procedure.

Other names

Cautery plumeDiathermy plumeLaser plumeSurgical plumeElectrosurgery plume

Not applicable