The daily smoke produced in an operating room is the equivalent of 27-30 cigarettes, and the OR staff breathes this in five days a week. When tools in the OR cut and cauterize human tissue, they generate a plume of smoke containing toxic chemicals, carcinogens, malignant cells and viruses. Surgical smoke can cause a host of conditions, anything from headaches and sore throat to lung disease and lung cancer. On this episode, a Vizient expert discusses the ramifications of surgical smoke and how to begin preventing it.

Moderator: Tomas Villanueva, DO, MBA, FACPE, SFHM Senior Principal, Performance Improvement Consulting Vizient

Guest: Rachel Medina, BSBA Senior Category Manager, Surgical Services Vizient

Show Notes:

[01:27] Surgical smoke: a byproduct of surgical procedures

[01:51] Health issues from surgical smoke

[02:15] Not considered seriously over the decades

[02:47] Lung disease in physicians and OR staff

[03:34] Financial implications

[04:47] Growing awareness and the role of AORN

[06:33] Toxic materials and the effects of smoke plumes in the OR

[08:30] Vizient platform developing on surgical smoke

Links | Resources:

To contact Modern Practice: modernpracticepodcast@vizientinc.com

Rachel Medina’s email: rachel.medina@vizientinc.com

“As important as the air you breathe” (Vizient Tech Watch, p 38): Tech Watch Medical Device - Volume 2, 2022

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