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Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and identifying insufflators with desufflation mode and surgical smoke evacuators for safe CO 2 removal
Author(s) -
da Costa Karina M.,
Saxena Amulya K.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
asian journal of endoscopic surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.372
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 1758-5910
pISSN - 1758-5902
DOI - 10.1111/ases.12834
Subject(s) - medicine , covid-19 , pandemic , smoke , surgery , disease , waste management , engineering , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Given the propensity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 to spread, it is imperative that those continuing to perform surgery take precautions to limit the potential generation of contaminated aerosols in smoke from energy‐based instruments. The aim of this study was to report current data regarding insufflators with desufflation mode and similar options to safely remove CO 2 in minimal access surgery. Methods A non‐systematic review of the scientific literature was conducted using the PubMed database, and the main companies that provide surgical devices were contacted for information. Results Most commercially available smoke evacuators use a combination of suction and mechanical filtering. There are also electrostatic precipitators that charge surgical smoke and retain the particles via electrostatic attraction. The search identified three insufflators with desufflation mode, four modular smoke evacuators using mechanical filtration, and only one device using electrostatic precipitation. However, none of these devices has been tested with viruses. Conclusion This review identified commercially available equipment that employs mechanical filtering and electrostatic attraction principles that can be used for pneumoperitoneum evacuation during the present coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This pandemic should assist in raising awareness regarding protection measures and the risk of occupational exposure in surgery.