A Novel Inspection Protocol to Detect Volatile Compounds in Breast Surgery Electrocautery Smoke

Received 22 April 2009; received in revised form 18 August 2009; accepted 16 October 2009.

Background/Purpose

Electrocautery procedures generate malodorous smoke. This study quantified five volatile organic compounds detected in the smoke produced during breast surgery, and elucidated the factors that affect their chemical production.

Methods

All samplers were assembled in an acrylic chamber with a Tygon tube attached to the tip of a diathermy pencil. The electrocautery smoke was quantified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Results

In all samples, toluene was identified in concentrations of 2.48–5.50 mg/m3. Higher concentrations were observed during modified radical mastectomy procedures. Patients with high body mass index revealed high toluene concentrations. Longer duration of electrocautery tended to produce more toluene.

Conclusion

The sampling protocol enabled acquisition of smoke samples near the source without interrupting surgery. The findings suggest that type of surgery, patient body mass index and duration of electrocautery are factors that can alter production of chemicals.

Key Words: diathermy , surgical plume , volatile compounds

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Article Outline

• Abstract

• References

• Copyright

References

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a Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei County, Taiwan

b Department of Anesthesiology, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan

c Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan

Correspondence to: Dr Chin-Sheng Tang, Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, 510 Jhongjheng Road, Sinjhuang City, Taipei County 24205, Taiwan

† Yu-Wen Lin and Shou-Zen Fan contributed equally to this work.

PII: S0929-6646(10)60085-X

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(10)60085-X

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