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COMPOSITION OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS IN DIATHERMY PLUME AS DETECTED BY SELECTED ION FLOW TUBE MASS SPECTROMETRY
Author(s) -
Moot Andrew R.,
Ledingham Katherine M.,
Wilson Paul F.,
Senthilmohan Senti T.,
Lewis David R.,
Roake Justin,
Allardyce Randall
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2006.03827.x
Subject(s) - medicine , mass spectrometry , plume , diathermy , chromatography , environmental chemistry , tube (container) , flow (mathematics) , gas chromatography–mass spectrometry , waste management , surgery , chemistry , mechanics , physics , engineering , thermodynamics
Background: There is some evidence that surgical plume may pose a risk to health professionals, but the risks posed by volatile organic compounds have not been thoroughly investigated. Methods: The composition of volatile organic compounds in diathermy plume produced during surgery was analysed by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry. Results: Hydrogen cyanide (3–51 parts per million), acetylene (2–8 parts per million), and 1,3‐butadiene (0.15–0.69 parts per million) were identified in the plume. Conclusion: Although there is no evidence of adverse health effects from the volatile organic compound in diathermy plume, the evidence that it is safe to breathe this plume is lacking. Therefore, we would recommend the use of smoke evacuators where practical.