Questionnaire regarding surgical smoke exposure in operating rooms |
Introduction
During almost all surgical procedures, heat-producing equipment is used in patients’ tissue for dissection or haemostasis. When using rapid mechanical devices and heat-producing devices, a gaseous by-product known as diathermy plume is generated. Diathermy plume contains chemical and biological substances that are considered as mutagenic, carcinogenic, and possibly infectious. The plume contains dead and living cell material from the patient’s tissue, HPV DNA, toxic gases, mutagenic and carcinogenic materials.[1]
In 2021, EORNA and Stryker developed and distributed a survey with European hospital staff, in particular operating room (OR) nurses, to better understand the level of their awareness of surgical smoke, as well as their experiences and knowledge of symptoms and/or diseases associated with surgical smoke. The results, for six countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK) and consolidated across Europe were published in 2022, on the Surgical Smoke Coalition’s website.
In 2023, the Surgical Smoke Coalition intends to follow up on the aforementioned survey. Reaching out to healthcare professionals, hospital and healthcare leaders across Europe, we aim to assess again the level of awareness and practices in tackling surgical smoke and the risks for HCPs exposed thereto, as well as any possible evolution since 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To do so, the Surgical Smoke Coalition has developed a short questionnaire (approx. 8 minutes) and would appreciate your input on this topic. If you have already received this questionnaire, we would kindly ask you not to complete the questionnaire again.
Thank you!
In 2021, EORNA and Stryker developed and distributed a survey with European hospital staff, in particular operating room (OR) nurses, to better understand the level of their awareness of surgical smoke, as well as their experiences and knowledge of symptoms and/or diseases associated with surgical smoke. The results, for six countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK) and consolidated across Europe were published in 2022, on the Surgical Smoke Coalition’s website.
In 2023, the Surgical Smoke Coalition intends to follow up on the aforementioned survey. Reaching out to healthcare professionals, hospital and healthcare leaders across Europe, we aim to assess again the level of awareness and practices in tackling surgical smoke and the risks for HCPs exposed thereto, as well as any possible evolution since 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To do so, the Surgical Smoke Coalition has developed a short questionnaire (approx. 8 minutes) and would appreciate your input on this topic. If you have already received this questionnaire, we would kindly ask you not to complete the questionnaire again.
Thank you!
[1] Al Sahaf, OS et al. Chemical composition of smoke produced by high-frequency electrosurgery. Irish Journal of Medical Science. 2007. 176(3):229-32