Cytotoxicity of electro-surgical smoke produced in an anoxic environment.
BACKGROUND
The effect on cell viability of smoke produced during high-frequency electro-surgery has not been previously reported. The aim of this study was to produce smoke in vitro, in a closed environment similar to that encountered in minimal access surgery, and to test its cytotoxic effects on cultured cells.


METHODS
Pig liver was cut repeatedly with an electro-surgical hook knife, and the smoke generated was collected and equilibrated with cell culture medium. MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells were exposed briefly to various dilutions of this medium and tested for clonogenicity.


RESULTS
Electro-surgical smoke produced in a helium environment reduced the clonogenicity of the MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner, falling to 30% when the cells were exposed to undiluted medium for 15 minutes.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that electro-surgical smoke is cytotoxic. The sublethal effects at lower dilutions are currently being investigated.
Hensman
C
C
Department of Surgery, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Newman
E L
EL
Shimi
S M
SM
Cuschieri
A
A
D000693:Anaerobiosis; D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002455:Cell Division; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D006801:Humans; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013552:Swine; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D012906:Smoke; D002245:Carbon Dioxide