New Hospital Developments Now Specify In Boom / Pendant Smoke Evacuation

In Pendant Smoke Evacuations Systems (IPSES) are now being specified in almost all new Australian and New Zealand Hospital projects. The Cockatoo Blue IPSES system has been installed in Melbourne’s Royal Women’s Hospital Complex including Frances Perry House. IPSES was also included in the John Hunter and Royal Newcastle redevelopments and a new variation of the system was developed with the Victorian Royal Children’s Hospital. As well as new installations the system can be retrofitted into existing pendants and booms with little or no effect on functioning of an operating theatre. These systems have been fitted into Draeger, Trumpf, Esco, Claveguard pendants....
Read More

Is Your Work Place A Smoke Free Environment?

Is Your Work Place A Smoke Free Environment? Across the world more and more work environments are becoming “SMOKE FREE” including Bars, Restaurants and even Public Places.  This change has occurred due to the acceptance of the dangers of cigarette smoke to the health of humans in general.The operating theatre remains a “SMOKE ACCEPTABLE” environment due to the production of surgical smoke during the use of Diathermy (Electro) and Laser Surgery.  Worse: the plume produced during these procedures may be even worse than that from cigarettes.Surgical plume contains similar Chemical Hazards to cigarette smoke including carcinogens such as: Benzene and Formaldehyde but it also contains the added hazards of infective virus and bacteria such as Hepatitis, Human Papilloma Virus and HIV.These hazards can be greatly reduced by the use of a Smoke Evacuation System and the associated accessories.  In fact the use of smoke evacuation is a requirement of the ACORN Standards:Standard 1994 “Guide to the safe use of lasers in Health...
Read More

Hazards of Surgical Smoke

Hazards of Surgical Smoke Surgical smoke has been shown to contain a large number potential of Biological and Chemical hazards. It also reduces creates an offensive odour and reduces visibility for the surgical team.The plume contains Carcinogens, Poisons and Infective Virus and Bacteria.  Visibility: The most obvious hazard of surgical smoke is that it reduces the visibility for the surgical team during a procedure.  Odour: The strong noxious and offensive odour produced by Electro and Laser surgery is permeates throughout the operating theatre during and after the procedure. This odour is the first warning sign of the danger of surgical smoke. The odour is caused by the dangerous chemicals present in the plume produced.  Biological Hazards: Multiple studies have shown that virus and bacteria are expelled with the surgical plume intact. These studies found that not only was the virus intact it was also still viable and infectious.The Biological hazards released during Electro and Laser surgery include: Virus including:Hepatitis B & C HIV HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) ...
Read More