Surgical smoke, routinely generated by lasers, electrosurgical devices, and ultrasonic tools, has been a longstanding part of operating room culture. Despite the near-constant presence of this smoke, its risks to perioperative care are under-recognized and inconsistently addressed. This lack of awareness and action has descended into a blind spot in healthcare, putting both healthcare professionals…
The annual Association of periOperative Registered Nurse (AORN) Global Surgical Conference & Expo, which took place this year in New Orleans, Louisiana, featured a poster that honed in on a crucial and often overlooked hazard within operating rooms - surgical smoke. Authored by Alexis J. Carlson, MSN, RN, CNOR, the poster titled “227 - Up…