[MCOH-EH] Question on surgical smoke evacuation

[Epps, Nancy]

Responses regarding Surgical Smoke Evacuation (From questions of Marilyn Byrd MSN, RN)


  1.   Do you have a policy in place for Safe Handling of Surgical Smoke? If so, would you share with me?-No, no policy in place
  2.   For those who have smoke evacuators, which type do you have and are you satisfied with its performance?-No, no smoke evacuators in use other than wall suction
  3.  Have you found any evidence that defines minimal and significant smoke to guide in usage of just a wall suction with hepa filter or the need for a smoke evacuator (local exhaust ventilation).--Unknown
  4.  Do you offer the HPV vaccine to surgical employees?--No
  5.  If your surgical employees wear the N95 mask instead of having a local exhaust ventilation system how did you get consistent usage?-In our facility, N95 masks are used for HPV cases and during laser cases per our policies for those specific situations. Laser policies are very specific where staff usage is reinforced by our Laser Safety Officer in our OR areas. Physician compliance is more difficult.


Nancy Epps RN, BSN, COHN-S
Team Member Health Clinician
Tampa General Hospital
813.844.8003 - Office
nepps at tgh.org<mailto:nepps at tgh.org>

We Heal. We Teach. We Innovate.
We Are TGH.


From: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh-bounces+jshea=tgh.org at mylist.net<mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces+jshea=tgh.org at mylist.net>>On Behalf Of Marilyn Byrd
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2019 3:34 PM
To: MCOH/EH <mcoh-eh at mylist.net<mailto:mcoh-eh at mylist.net>>
Subject: [MCOH-EH] Surgical Smoke Evacuation

I am in the process of evaluating the practice here at my hospital in regards to how we handle surgical smoke.  I would appreciate any feedback in regards to the following questions.

  1.   Do you have a policy in place for Safe Handling of Surgical Smoke? If so, would you share with me?
  2.   For those who have smoke evacuators, which type do you have and are you satisfied with its performance?
  3.  Have you found any evidence that defines minimal and significant smoke to guide in usage of just a wall suction with hepa filter or the need for a smoke evacuator (local exhaust ventilation).
  4.  Do you offer the HPV vaccine to surgical employees?
  5.  If your surgical employees wear the N95 mask instead of having a local exhaust ventilation system how did you get consistent usage?

Thank you for your feedback

Marilyn Byrd MSN, RN
System Director
Employee Health
Office: 812-238-7163
Fax: 812-238-7287

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