Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chemical analysis of surgical smoke by infrared laser spectroscopy

  • Published:
Applied Physics B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The chemical composition of surgical smoke, a gaseous by-product of some surgical devices—lasers, drills, vessel sealing devices—is of great interest due to the many toxic components that have been found to date. For the first time, surgical smoke samples collected during routine keyhole surgery were analyzed with infrared laser spectroscopy. Traces (ppm range) of methane, ethane, ethylene, carbon monoxide and sevoflurane were detected in the samples which consisted mostly of carbon dioxide and water vapor. Except for the anaesthetic sevoflurane, none of the compounds were present at dangerous concentrations. Negative effects on the health of operation room personnel can be excluded for many toxic compounds found in earlier studies, since their concentrations are below recommended exposure limits.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. W. Barrett, S. Garber, Surg. Endosc. 17, 979 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. W. Francke, O. Fleck, D.-L. Mihalache, W. Wöllmer, Proc. SPIE 2323, 423 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. C. Hensman, D. Baty, R. Willis, A. Cuschieri, Surg. Endosc. 12, 1017 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. K. Desinger, W. Wäsche, H. Albrecht, Proc. SPIE 2624, 234 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. W. Wäsche, H. Albrecht, G.J. Mueller, Proc. SPIE 2323, 393 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. M. Spleiss, L.W. Weber, Proc. SPIE 2923, 168 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. M. Spleiss, L. Weber, T. Meier, B. Treffler, Proc. SPIE 2323, 409 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. H. Albrecht, R. Hagemann, W. Wäsche, G. Wagner, G.J. Mueller, Proc. SPIE 2077, 310 (1994)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. L.W. Weber, M. Spleiss, Proc. SPIE 2323, 464 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. H. Albrecht, W. Wäsche, G.J. Mueller, Proc. SPIE 2323, 455 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. W. Wäsche, H. Albrecht, Proc. SPIE 2624, 270 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. H.-J. Weigmann, J. Lademann, J. Liebetruth, Proc. SPIE 2077, 264 (1994)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. H.-J. Weigmann, J. Lademann, H. Meffert, W. Sterry, Proc. SPIE 2923, 164 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. P. Sagar, A. Meagher, S. Sobczak, B. Wolff, Br. J. Surg. 83, 1792 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. J.M. Rey, D. Schramm, D. Hahnloser, D. Marinov, M.W. Sigrist, Meas. Sci. Technol. 19, 075602 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. M. Baggish, B. Poiesz, D. Joret, P. Williamson, A. Rebai, Lasers Surg. Med. 11, 197 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. P. Hallmo, O. Naess, Em. Arch. Otorhinolaryngol. 248, 425 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. L. Calero, T. Brusis, Laryngo-Rhino-Otologie 82, 790 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. J.M. Garden, M.K. O’Banion, A.D. Bakus, C. Olson, Arch. Dermatol. 138, 1303 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. B. Ziegler, C. Thomas, T. Meier, R. Muller, T. Fliedner, L. Weber, Lasers Surg. Med. 22, 37 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. D. Jewett, P. Heinsohn, C. Bennett, A. Rosen, C. Neuilly, Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 53, 228 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. P. Heinsohn, D. Jewett, Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 54, 446 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. K.J. Weld, S. Dryer, C.D. Ames, K. Cho, C. Hogan, M. Lee, P. Biswas, J. Landman, J. Endourol. 21, 347 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. A.R. Moot, K.M. Ledingham, P.F. Wilson, S.T. Senthilmohan, D.R. Lewis, J. Roake, R. Allardyce, ANZ J. Surg. 77, 20 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. R. Weston, R.N. Stephenson, P.W. Kutarski, N.J. Parr, Urology 74, 1152 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. O.S. Al Sahaf, I. Vega-Carrascal, F.O. Cunningham, J.P. McGrath, F.J. Bloomfield, Ir. J. Med. Sci. 176, 229 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Y.J. Chung, S.K. Lee, S.H. Han, C. Zhao, M.K. Kim, S.C. Park, J.K. Park, Int. J. Urol. 17, 944 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. D. Galbraith, S.A. Gross, D. Paustenbach, Crit. Rev. Toxicol. 40, 1 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. L. Lehman-McKeeman, Toxicol. Sci. 116, 361 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. D.S. Bomse, A.C. Stanton, J.A. Silver, Appl. Opt. 31, 718 (1992)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. M. Seiter, M.W. Sigrist, Appl. Opt. 38, 4691 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. C. Dyroff, D. Fuetterer, A. Zahn, Appl. Phys. B 98, 537 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. L. Ciaffoni, R. Grilli, G. Hancock, A.J. Orr-Ewing, R. Peverall, G.A.D. Ritchie, Appl. Phys. B 94, 517 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. A. Elia, C.D. Franco, P.M. Lugara, G. Scamarcio, Sensors 6, 1411 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. D. Romanini, M. Chenevier, S. Kassi, M. Schmidt, C. Valant, M. Ramonet, J. Lopez, H. Jost, Appl. Phys. B 83, 659 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. S. Schilt, A.A. Kosterev, F.K. Tittel, Appl. Phys. B 95, 813 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. C. Wang, P. Sahay, Sensors 9, 8230 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. A. Kosterev, G. Wysocki, Y. Bakhirkin, S. So, R. Lewicki, M. Fraser, F. Tittel, R. Curl, Appl. Phys. B 90, 165 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. F.K. Tittel, A.A. Kosterev, Appl. Phys. B 85, 171 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. C. Fischer, M.W. Sigrist, Mid-IR difference frequency generation, in Solid-State Mid-infrared Laser Sources. Top. Appl. Phys., vol. 89 (Springer, Berlin, 2003), pp. 97–140

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  41. M. Gianella, M.W. Sigrist, Appl. Opt. 50, A11 (2011)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. M. Gianella, Analysis of surgical smoke by infrared laser spectroscopy, Ph.D. thesis, ETH Zurich (2011)

  43. R. Bartlome, M. Baer, M.W. Sigrist, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 78, 013110 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  44. P. Werle, R. Mücke, F. Slemr, Appl. Phys. B 57, 131 (1993)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  45. J.A. Barnes, A.R. Chi, L.S. Cutler, D.J. Healey, D.B. Leeson, T.E. McGunigal, J.A. Mullen, W.L. Smith, R.L. Sydnor, R.F.C. Vessot, G.M.R. Winkler, IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas. IM-20, 105 (1971)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. J. Silver, Appl. Opt. 31, 707 (1992)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  47. C. Tang, J. Telle, J. Appl. Phys. 45, 4503 (1974)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  48. E. Moses, C. Tang, Opt. Lett. 1, 115 (1977)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  49. D.E. Jennings, Appl. Opt. 19, 2695 (1980)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  50. H.A. Spaink, T.T. Lub, H.C. Smit, Anal. Chim. Acta 241, 83 (1990)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. L. Rothman, I. Gordon, A. Barbe, D. Benner, P. Bernath, M. Birk, V. Boudon, L. Brown, A. Campargue, J.-P. Champion, K. Chance, L. Coudert, V. Dana, V. Devi, S. Fally, J.-M. Flaud, R. Gamache, A. Goldman, D. Jacquemart, I. Kleiner, N. Lacome, W. Lafferty, J.-Y. Mandin, S. Massie, S. Mikhailenko, C. Miller, N. Moazzen-Ahmadi, O. Naumenko, A. Nikitin, J. Orphal, V. Perevalov, A. Perrin, A. Predoi-Cross, C. Rinsland, M. Rotger, M. Simeckova, M. Smith, K. Sung, S. Tashkun, J. Tennyson, R. Toth, A. Vandaele, J.V. Auwera, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transf. 110, 533 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  52. M. Gianella, M.W. Sigrist, Appl. Spectrosc. 63, 338 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  53. S.W. Sharpe, T.J. Johnson, R.L. Sams, P.M. Chu, G.C. Rhoderick, P.A. Johnson, Appl. Spectrosc. 58, 1452 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  54. T. Katoh, K. Ikeda, Anesthesiology 66, 301 (1987)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. A. Brown, C. Canosamas, A. Par, J. Pierce, R. Wayne, Nature 341, 635 (1989)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  56. M. Gianella, M.W. Sigrist, Sensors 10, 2694 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. SUVA, Grenzwerte am Arbeitsplatz (SUVA, Lucerne, 2009)

    Google Scholar 

  58. E. Esper, T.E. Russell, B. Coy, B.E. Duke, M.H. Max, J.A. Coil, Surg. Endosc. 4, 333 (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  59. C. Byhahn, H.J. Wilke, K. Westphal, CNS Drugs 15, 197 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. K.H. Hoerauf, T. Wallner, O. Akça, R. Taslimi, D.I. Sessler, Anesth. Analg. 88, 925 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  61. M. Imbriani, P. Zadra, S. Negri, A. Alessio, L. Maestri, S. Ghittori, Med. Lav. 92, 173 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  62. NIOSH, Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Waste Anesthetic Gases and Vapors (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Washington, 1977) pp. 77–140

    Google Scholar 

  63. A. Accorsi, A. Barbieri, G.B. Raffi, F.S. Violante, Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 74, 541 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  64. A. Accorsi, S. Valenti, A. Barbieri, G.B. Raffi, F.S. Violante, Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 76, 129 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  65. C. Byhahn, K. Heller, V. Lischke, K. Westphal, World J. Surg. 25, 1109 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. A. Gentili, A. Accorsi, A. Pigna, V. Bachiocco, I. Domenichini, S. Baroncini, F.S. Violante, Eur. J. Anaesthesiol. 21, 638 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  67. B. Gustorff, N. Lorenzl, L. Aram, C.G. Krenn, B.P. Jobst, K.H. Hoerauf, Anesth. Analg. 94, 1244 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. J.E. Hall, K.A. Henderson, T.A. Oldham, S. Pugh, M. Harmer, Br. J. Anaesth. 79, 342 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. H. Heijbel, R. Bjurstöm, J.G. Jakobsson, Acta Anaesthesiol. Scand. 54, 1117 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  70. J. Hobbhahn, K. Hoerauf, G. Wiesner, K. Schrögendorfer, K. Taeger, Acta Anaesthesiol. Scand. 42, 864 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  71. J. Hobbhahn, G. Wiesner, K. Taeger, Anaesthesist 47 Suppl 1, S77 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. K. Hoerauf, W. Funk, M. Harth, J. Hobbhahn, Anaesthesia 52, 215 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  73. K.H. Hoerauf, C. Koller, K. Taeger, J. Hobbhahn, Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 69, 134 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. K. Hoerauf, T. Hartmann, A. Zavrski, S. Adel, H. Burger, H. Koinig, M. Zimpfer, Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 72, 174 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  75. K.H. Hoerauf, T. Hartmann, S. Acimovic, A. Kopp, G. Wiesner, B. Gustorff, H. Jellinek, P. Krafft, Br. J. Anaesth. 86, 124 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  76. N. Raj, K.A. Henderson, J.E. Hall, I.M. Aguilera, M. Harmer, A. Hutchings, B. Williams, Anaesthesia 58, 630 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  77. H. Rasmussen, S. Thorud, J. Am. Assoc. Lab. Anim. Sci. 46, 64 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  78. G. Summer, P. Lirk, K. Hoerauf, U. Riccabona, F. Bodrogi, H. Raifer, M. Deibl, J. Rieder, W. Schobersberger, Anesth. Analg. 97, 1070 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  79. B. Tankó, C. Molnár, T. Budi, C. Peto, L. Novák, B. Fülesdi, Anesth. Analg. 109, 1187 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  80. R. Hollmann, C. Hort, E. Kammer, M. Nägele, M.W. Sigrist, C. Meuli-Simmen, Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 114, 458 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  81. J. Wu, D. Luttmann, T. Meininger, N. Soper, Surg. Endosc. 11, 1075 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank D. Hahnloser, University Hospital Zurich, for the fruitful collaboration. We also thank Nanoplus GmbH for providing the laser diode for the carbon monoxide measurements. Financial support from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and ETH Zurich is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Quantum Electronics, Laser Spectroscopy and Sensing Lab, ETH Zurich, Schafmattstr. 16, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland

    Michele Gianella & Markus W. Sigrist

Authors
  1. Michele Gianella
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Markus W. Sigrist
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Markus W. Sigrist.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gianella, M., Sigrist, M.W. Chemical analysis of surgical smoke by infrared laser spectroscopy. Appl. Phys. B 109, 485–496 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-012-4920-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-012-4920-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation