Development and evaluation of a modular smoke evacuator for surgical smoke control

TL;DR

A new modular smoke evacuator was developed and tested to reduce harmful surgical smoke during laparoscopic procedures, showing significant reductions in particulate matter and VOCs.

Contribution

A novel, cost-effective, modular passive smoke evacuator was developed and evaluated for surgical smoke control.

Findings

The prototype evacuator reduced PM2.5 levels by over 99.5% and VOC concentrations by over 95%.

CO₂ concentrations returned to baseline after evacuation, indicating minimal disruption to the chamber atmosphere.

Abstract

Surgical smoke generated during energy-based operations is a known hazard containing particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and biological debris, with insufficient adoption of commercial smoke evacuators due to cost and complexity.

This study aimed to develop a cost-effective, modular and passive smoke evacuator and evaluate its efficacy in reducing PM and VOC levels during simulated laparoscopic procedures.

A prototype smoke evacuator incorporating a distilled water bubbling trap, activated carbon filter, and ULPA filter was tested in a sealed chamber simulating laparoscopic surgery using porcine liver tissue. The system was connected to a laparoscopic port through a three-way valve, allowing manual, on-demand smoke evacuation without continuous suction. Air quality metrics, including PM1.0, PM2.5, PM10, VOC, and CO₂, were measured continuously. Results were compared to baseline and performance benchmarks from commercial smoke evacuation systems. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-tests.

The prototype evacuator reduced PM2.5 levels by >99.5% and VOC concentrations by >95% compared to no-evacuation control trials (p < 0.01). CO₂ concentrations returned to baseline following evacuation, indicating minimal disturbance of chamber atmosphere. PM2.5 and VOC levels were restored to near-baseline values.

The developed modular passive smoke evacuator offers a promising and cost-effective solution to improve air quality and enhance occupational safety in operating rooms. The model represents an idealized simulation of laparoscopic smoke evacuation; further clinical validation in live surgical environments is warranted.

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