Aerosols, airflow, and airspace contamination during laparoscopy.

Hardy, N; Dalli, J; Khan, M F; Nolan, K; Cahill, R A · Br J Surg · 2021

basic_science · Level V

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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.

Medical subject headings