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S M O K E
E V A C U A T I O N
HEALTH HAZARD Surgical smoke is hazardous, whether it's visible or invisible,
odoriferous or odorless.
Yes, You Can Have a
Smoke-Free OR
How to convince your staff and your
surgeons that smoke evacuation is essential.
Lizbeth Bozeman, RN, CNOR | Virginia Beach, Va.
I
f you can't see it and you can't always smell it, then it must not
exist. That's often the attitude toward electrosurgical smoke. But
smoke from electrosurgical devices does exist and research shows
it can be as dangerous as any laser plume you can see, smell and
measure.
Many of our nurses are certified through AORN and participate in
organization activities, closely watching new guidelines and standards. Smoke evacuation in the OR is a basic AORN principle.
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | J U N E 2013
