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Eliminating Potential Electrosurgical Hazards
http://www.leadgenix.com
To begin, the operator of the smoke evacuation wand should be in close proximity to the surgical site in order to maximize the ability to capture particulate matter, odors, and to enhance visibility. Manufacturer recommendations for the smoke evacuation units should be followed, and the instructions should be posted near the surgical site at all times.
If there is a detectable odor during the use of the smoke evacuation unit, then there could be one of several problems present. It is possible that the smoke is not being captured at the site where the plume is being generated.
There could also be inefficient air movement through the suction or smoke evacuation wand. The last reason is that the filter on the device has exceeded its intended use and needs to be replaced.
When a minimal amount of plume is generated, a central suction system with an in-line ULPA filter may be used to evacuate the plume. The in-line filter should be placed between the suction wall/ceiling connection and the suction canister.
Central suction units should not be used without an in-line ULPA filter to remove airborne contaminants. These devices are designed to capture liquids.
Low suction rates that are present in the centralized suction units limit their efficiency in evacuating plume. This means that they are only intended to be used for the evacuation of small amounts of plume.
When a centralized system dedicated for smoke evacuation is available, the smoke evacuator lines should be flushed according to the manufacturer's instruction. This precaution will ensure that particulate matter build-up does not occur.
Plume particulate can accumulate in the lumens of the centralized system; which will cause a decrease in the suction capability of the device. It can also allow for the potential growth of pathogens.
Any smoke evacuator filters, tubing, and wands that have been used should be discarded as potentially infectious waste. This means that standard precautions for hazardous waste should be followed.
Airborne contaminants that are produced during electrosurgery or laser procedures have been analyzed and shown to contain gaseous toxic compounds, bio-aerosols, and dead and living cell material. At a high concentration level, these materials have been known to create an unpleasant odor, create visual problems for physicians, create ocular and upper respiratory tract irritation, and demonstrate mutagenic and carcinogenic potential.
Medical personnel should wear high-filtration surgical masks during procedures that generate surgical smoke. These high-filtration masks are specifically designed to filter the particulate matter that is one-tenth micron and larger in size.
This may help protect against residual plume in the air that has escaped being captured by the smoke evacuation unit. These masks should not be viewed by medical personnel as an absolute protection from the chemical or particulate contaminants found in surgical smoke.
In addition, it should not be employed as the first line of protection against surgical smoke inhalation. This safety gear is rather a small protectant against the effects of surgical smoke.
In order to create the safest environment, medical personnel should receive initial education and competency validation on procedures. They should also receive additional training when new equipment, instruments, supplies, or procedures are introduced to their hospital.
Receiving initial education on the basic principles of electrosurgical safety procedures provides a road map from which personnel can follow to foster a safe environment. Regularly scheduled educational programs will help reinforce those safety principles and help implement new or modified regulations.
New information could be about changes in technology, its application, compatibility of equipment and accessories, and potential hazards. Technology is always changing and new developments are always being implemented, so it is important to stay on top of the new trends and practices in the medical field.
Electrosurgical equipment and the accompanying accessories have been known to cause or be associated with fires and patient injuries. Electrosurgical Units are considered to be high risk equipment that requires its users to undergo proper training in order to properly and safely operate the equipment.
Tommy Greene has worked in surgical equipment sales for the past 15 years. He has great advice and information on Electrosurgery Equipment. Contact Info: Tommy Greene TommyGreene09@gmail.com http://www.megadyne.com/products.php
Article submitted Friday, April 08, 2011 & read 9 times.
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