Aerosols, airflow, and airspace contamination during laparoscopy. Issue 9 (8th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hardy, N; Dalli, J; Khan, M F; Nolan, K; Cahill, R A
• Is Part Of: British journal of surgery. Volume 108:Issue 9(2021)
• Page Start: 1022
• Page End: 1025
• Publication Date: 2021-04-08
• Subjects: Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.005
• DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znab114
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1323

Abstract

Lay summary: Laparoscopic surgery has been undermined throughout the COVID-19 pandemic by concerns that it may generate an infectious risk to the operating team through aerosolization of peritoneal particles. There is anyway a need for increased awareness and understanding of the occupational hazard for surgical teams regarding unfiltered escape of pollutants generated by surgical smoke and other microbials. Here, the aerosol-generating nature of this access modality was confirmed through repeatable real-time methodology both qualitatively and quantitively to inform best practice and additional engineering solutions to optimize the operating room environment. Abstract : Laparoscopic surgery has been undermined throughout the COVID-19 pandemic by concerns that it may generate an infectious risk to the operating team through aerosolization of peritoneal particles. There is anyway a need for increased awareness and understanding of the occupational hazard for surgical teams regarding unfiltered escape of pollutants generated by surgical smoke and other microbials. Here, the aerosol-generating nature of this access modality was confirmed through repeatable real-time methodology both qualitatively and quantitively to inform best practice and additional engineering solutions to optimize the operating room environment.