Smoke alarm in surgery

Surgeons, nurses and patients are being exposed to toxic surgical smoke from burnt body parts, and health staff want New Zealand hospitals to adopt safety measures.

The thermal destruction of human tissue – burning through flesh during surgery – can create plumes with dangerous byproducts, including live viruses, carcinogens, hydrogen cyanide and cellular material.

Orthopaedic surgeon Bruce Hodgson said the impact of toxic surgical plumes was a public health issue, comparable to the debates about asbestos and second-hand tobacco smoke.

His employer, Dunedin’s Mercy Hospital, wants a better ‘‘smoke evacuation’’ standard nationwide.

Solutions include installing ventilators and suction systems but there are currently no national guidelines.

Surgical smoke plumes can cause significant health complications. Suzanne Rolls NZ Nurses Organisation

Mercy Hospital has raised the issue with WorkSafe, as has the Nurses Organisation (NZNO).

‘‘We want WorkSafe to move on this,’’ said Miriam Vollweiler, Mercy’s occupational health and infection control nurse.

The sights – and smells – caused by some operations were familiar to many professionals, but the idea that ‘‘things have always been that way’’ was not an excuse, said Vollweiler.

‘‘It’s a bit analogous to smoking.’’

Canterbury Charity Hospital Trust general surgeon Dr Philip Bagshaw spent years working in theatres carrying out surgeries, including burning off viral lesions.

When he started his career, nobody seemed to think plumes of smoke were dangerous.

‘‘I must’ve breathed in acres of the stuff.’’

Some evidence now showed plumes could be carcinogenic, he said.

‘‘Virus particles can be carried in it if you’re operating on something like viral warts.’’

Suzanne Rolls, NZ Nurses Organisation professional nursing adviser, said inconsistent safety standards also put patients at risk.

‘‘Surgical smoke plumes can cause significant health complications for healthcare workers – nurses, doctors, allied staff like technicians.’’ Patients were at risk too. Ear, nose and throat surgery specialist Dr Philip Bird said plumes could contain ‘‘a bunch of nasty staff’’ including benzene and formaldehyde.

Bird said some surgeons ‘‘weren’t interested’’ but he felt suggestions for a nationwide standard seemed sensible.

He said Christchurch Hospital had an effective system for removing smoke.

‘‘It’s not routinely done everywhere of course.’’

WorkSafe and the office of Minister Michael Woodhouse have been approached for comment.