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Cytotoxicity of electro-surgical smoke produced in an anoxic environment
C Hensman1, E L Newman, S M Shimi
1Department of Surgery, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Background:
The effect on cell viability of smoke produced during high-frequency electro-surgery has not been previously reported. The aim of this study was to produce smoke in vitro, in a closed environment similar to that encountered in minimal access surgery, and to test its cytotoxic effects on cultured cells.
Methods:
Pig liver was cut repeatedly with an electro-surgical hook knife, and the smoke generated was collected and equilibrated with cell culture medium. MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells were exposed briefly to various dilutions of this medium and tested for clonogenicity.
Results:
Electro-surgical smoke produced in a helium environment reduced the clonogenicity of the MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner, falling to 30% when the cells were exposed to undiluted medium for 15 minutes.
Conclusions:
We conclude that electro-surgical smoke is cytotoxic. The sublethal effects at lower dilutions are currently being investigated.