title: Cytotoxicity of electro-surgical smoke produced in an anoxic environment.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hensman
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shimi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuschieri
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D012906:Smoke; D002245:Carbon Dioxide