Supporting Surgical Smoke Evacuation Legislation Through A Policy Analysis

Recorded on September 1, 2021

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Supporting Surgical Smoke Evacuation Legislation Through A Policy Analysis

About the Webinar: 

For more than 25 years, health risks associated with surgical smoke exposure have been debated. In 1996, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) confirmed that smoke produced by laser or electrosurgery units may contain toxic vapors, blood fragments, and viruses which subsequently can produce respiratory and eye irritation in health care personnel. Aside from unpleasant odors, surgical smoke has known mutagenic potential. National and international organizations have long recommended the use of smoke evacuation systems; however, adoption of these recommendations has been slow. Data from the NIOSH Health & Safety Practices Survey of Healthcare Workers indicate that only 14% reported evacuating surgical smoke during electrosurgery procedures, and 47% reported use during laser procedures. This webinar will review current research findings, a concept analysis, and a policy analysis on the topic of surgical smoke evacuation to raise awareness and advocate for the use of smoke evacuation systems and respiratory protection for healthcare workers.

Learning Objectives

  1. Discuss surgical smoke exposure potential in the health care industry
  2. Identify the potential health risks to perioperative personnel exposed to surgical smoke
  3. List actions to help protect perioperative personnel and patients from the dangers of surgical smoke
  4. Analyze surgical smoke as a health policy issue.

Instructor: Rebecca K. Vortman, DNP, RN, CNOR

For more than 25 years, health risks associated with surgical smoke exposure have been debated. In 1996, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) confirmed that smoke produced by laser or electrosurgery units may contain toxic vapors, blood fragments, and viruses which subsequently can produce respiratory and eye irritation in health care personnel. Aside from unpleasant odors, surgical smoke has known mutagenic potential. National and international organizations have long recommended the use of smoke evacuation systems; however, adoption of these recommendations has been slow. Data from the NIOSH Health & Safety Practices Survey of Healthcare Workers indicate that only 14% reported evacuating surgical smoke during electrosurgery procedures, and 47% reported use during laser procedures. This webinar will review current research findings, a concept analysis, and a policy analysis on the topic of surgical smoke evacuation to raise awareness and advocate for the use of smoke evacuation systems and respiratory protection for healthcare workers.

Instructor: Janet Thorlton, PhD, MS, RN, CNE

Janet Thorlton is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Dept. of Population Health at the University of Illinois College of Nursing. She has received several teaching awards for designing impactful graduate-level health policy courses. Over the past 15 years, she has mentored students and faculty on how to follow a step-by-step process for writing a policy analysis, resulting in multiple publications. She was selected to present Nurses Leading the Way through Innovative Approaches in Health Policy Curricula at a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nursing & Health Policy Collaborative. She attended George Mason University’s Washington Health Policy Institute and served as a professional nurse cabinet member for Senator Jim Merritt’s initiative for reducing heroin use in Indiana. Aspects of her research have led to building health policy competency in nursing programs, influencing nurses to work together to advocate and reduce preventable harm from substance misuse, abuse, and errors. Over the past twenty years she has held an active membership in the American Nurses Association and served as an elected delegate to the Illinois Nurses Association National Convention. She is also an active member of Sigma Theta Tau International, the Midwest Nursing Research Society, and the American Nursing Informatics Association.