Surgical smoke evacuation systems

Surgical smoke evacuation systems are high-flow vacuum sources used to capture, at the surgical site, the smoke aerosols and gases generated during the use of lasers and electrosurgical units (ESUs). In this study, we evaluated 16 evacuation systems, from 10 suppliers, designed and marketed for use in the operating room for general surgery. For our testing, we focused on the performance of the systems (particularly their ability to capture smoke particles under simulated surgical conditions) and their ease of use and quality of construction. We also examined the projected costs of each system over a seven-year life cycle. We rated the systems separately for two different evacuation applications (1) general-purpose applications, for which the system would, in many cases, be used with a handheld nozzle (the traditional capture device used with these systems), and (2) ESU-pencil-based evacuation applications only, for which the system would always be used with a pencil-based wand. (We report on ESU-pencil-based smoke evacuation wands in a separate Evaluation in this issue.) While we found most units to be Acceptable, we did rate two units Acceptable-Not Recommended for both applications and one unit Unacceptable for general-purpose applications. In addition to our findings for the evaluated models, this study features several sections providing generic information and guidance about smoke evacuation technology. The Technology Overview describes the basics: what these systems do and how they do it. The Technology Management Guide, "Clearing the Air-Should Surgical Smoke Be Evacuated?," discusses the issues healthcare facilities should consider when determining whether, when, and how surgical smoke should be evacuated. Finally, the Selection, Purchasing, and Use Guide offers guidance on how facilities can most effectively implement this technology, from identifying models that will meet their needs to ensuring that the systems are used properly to provide adequate staff protection.