Cultivating quality: implementing surgical smoke evacuation in the operating room.
Inspired by a presentation at an educational conference, two operating room (OR) nurses at Children's Hospital Boston raised concerns at the hospital's perioperative evidence-based practice committee meeting about the potential hazards associated with exposure to surgical smoke and aerosols. The nurses initiated a safety project involving the use of smoke evacuation devices in ORs. The subsequent policy development took two years and involved a literature review, a survey of other institutions, and the support of numerous stakeholders. A utilization review and supportive educational initiatives are ongoing.
Waddell
Ashley W G
AW
Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. ashley.waddell@childrens.harvard.edu
D000336:Aerosols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009871:Operating Room Nursing; D009873:Operating Rooms; D015208:Smoke Inhalation Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States; D014691:Ventilation
D000336:Aerosols