J M Rey et al 2008 Meas. Sci. Technol. 19 075602 doi:10.1088/0957-0233/19/7/075602
J M Rey1, D Schramm1, D Hahnloser2, D Marinov1 and M W Sigrist1
Show affiliationsThe potential risks associated with the emission of by-products emitted by surgical cautery are of concern. Various investigations—mostly based on gas chromatography—have been performed to analyse the so-called surgical smoke but controversies remain in terms of composition and concentrations of compounds present in the smoke and hence the associated risk to human health. This quantitative model study uses for the first time CO2-laser-based photoacoustic spectroscopy and focuses on the analysis of volatile organic compounds produced during thermal- and radiofrequency bipolar cautery on porcine liver. The latter instrument is employed in actual human surgery. Concentrations in the ppm to sub-ppm range and molar fractions could be determined for carbon dioxide, water vapour, ammonia, ethanol and methanol. Distinct differences particularly in the methanol and ethanol contents were found between the two cautery devices employed.
Issue 7 (July 2008)
Received 22 November 2007, in final form 28 April 2008
Published 29 May 2008
J M Rey et al 2008 Meas. Sci. Technol. 19 075602
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