Surgical Smoke
Surgical smoke is a byproduct generated during surgical procedures when tissue is heated by devices like lasers or electrosurgical pencils. This smoke contains harmful chemicals, viable cellular material, and potentially toxic gases, which can pose health risks to surgical staff and patients if inhaled.
To mitigate these risks, many operating rooms use smoke evacuators, which are specialized devices designed to capture and filter surgical smoke. Proper ventilation and safety protocols are essential to ensure a safe environment for both the surgical team and the patient during procedures involving surgical smoke.