Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (1992) vol. 74, 370
SURGICAL TECHNIQUES
Smoke evacuation during surgery J S Calder
A Murray-Wilson FFARCS
FRCS
SHO in Plastic Surgery
D J M Emerson
Consultant Anaesthetist
FRCS
Consultant Plastic Surgeon
The Northern General Hospital, Sheffield Key words: Diathermy; Smoke evacuation
Smoke generated when using diathermy impairs vision, causes unpleasant smells and requires an assistant using suction to clear the operative field. We report a simple, inexpensive method of evacuating smoke when using the Concept electrocautery pencil for dissection. Using suction tubing (7 mm internal diameter), a hole approximately 4 mm in diameter is cut 25 mm from its end. This is done by folding the tube back upon itself and trimming the shoulder so formed with straight Mayo scissors (Fig. 1). The Figure
.
active end of the electrocautery pencil is passed through this hole so that the blade protrudes by 10 mm (Fig. 2). The suction tube is held to the electrocautery by means of Steristrips or small elastic bands previously autoclaved (Fig. 3). Similar devices have been described before. The advantages claimed for our method are: 1 Combining suction with diathermy reduces the work of an assistant while ensuring that suction is always applied at the correct place. 2 The suction tube end acts as a guard to the blade of the diathermy when working in a deep wound. 3 The suction tube is non-collapsible and may be connected to wall or machine suction. 4 The device can be used by a right- or lefthanded surgeon. 5 The cost is low because only routinely used materials are involved. Further reading Thorne FL. The useful smoke sucker. Plast Reconstr
Correspondence to: Mr J S Calder FRCS, Research Registrar, The Queen Victoria Hospital, Holtye Road, East Grinstead, Sussex RH19 3DZ
Surg 1986;77:500. Young VL, Gumucio CA, Riolo J. A simple method of evacuating smoke from wounds. Plast Reconstr Surg 1989;84: 855. Received 24 September 1991
SURGICAL TECHNIQUES
Smoke evacuation during surgery J S Calder
A Murray-Wilson FFARCS
FRCS
SHO in Plastic Surgery
D J M Emerson
Consultant Anaesthetist
FRCS
Consultant Plastic Surgeon
The Northern General Hospital, Sheffield Key words: Diathermy; Smoke evacuation
Smoke generated when using diathermy impairs vision, causes unpleasant smells and requires an assistant using suction to clear the operative field. We report a simple, inexpensive method of evacuating smoke when using the Concept electrocautery pencil for dissection. Using suction tubing (7 mm internal diameter), a hole approximately 4 mm in diameter is cut 25 mm from its end. This is done by folding the tube back upon itself and trimming the shoulder so formed with straight Mayo scissors (Fig. 1). The Figure
.
active end of the electrocautery pencil is passed through this hole so that the blade protrudes by 10 mm (Fig. 2). The suction tube is held to the electrocautery by means of Steristrips or small elastic bands previously autoclaved (Fig. 3). Similar devices have been described before. The advantages claimed for our method are: 1 Combining suction with diathermy reduces the work of an assistant while ensuring that suction is always applied at the correct place. 2 The suction tube end acts as a guard to the blade of the diathermy when working in a deep wound. 3 The suction tube is non-collapsible and may be connected to wall or machine suction. 4 The device can be used by a right- or lefthanded surgeon. 5 The cost is low because only routinely used materials are involved. Further reading Thorne FL. The useful smoke sucker. Plast Reconstr
Correspondence to: Mr J S Calder FRCS, Research Registrar, The Queen Victoria Hospital, Holtye Road, East Grinstead, Sussex RH19 3DZ
Surg 1986;77:500. Young VL, Gumucio CA, Riolo J. A simple method of evacuating smoke from wounds. Plast Reconstr Surg 1989;84: 855. Received 24 September 1991
