In the operating room, the use of electrosurgical devices may create hazardous smoke that puts patients and the surgical team at risk. That’s one of the reasons why the Johnson & Johnson Institute and ETHICON, part of the J&J Family of Companies, continues to support education and training to help hospitals develop effective smoke evacuation programs and drive compliance with a focus on the safety and wellbeing of patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs). 

In the age of COVID-19, there is even greater need to address the issue because electrosurgical smoke, which is the by-product of dissecting or cauterizing tissue with energy, has been shown to contain blood and viruses.  

To help HCPs understand more about this critical topic and gain support for creating a smoke-free OR environment, the Johnson & Johnson Institute recently brought experts together to share learnings in a series of live-streamed webinars. More than 200 HCPs across the U.S. have participated.  

During these virtual learning experiences, faculty members discussed how advances in technology are enabling better smoke evacuation in the OR.  While in the past, equipment could be loud and bulky, today smoke evacuation devices are smaller and engineered to be quiet, unobtrusive, and easy to use. 

“We greatly appreciate the input and engagement from those who participated in this important webinar series and look forward to future collaborations,” said Rich Merklinger, Vice President, Global Education Solutions for Ethicon.  “We remain committed to playing a leadership role in helping HCPs create a safer environment for every member of the OR. 

Insights from Course Faculty  

"Potential hazards from surgical smoke continue to be demonstrated in research. My strong opinion is powerful that surgical smoke must be evacuated.  We have the technology, why not use it?" - Kay Ball, PhD, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, FAAN 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly now brought into focus for a much larger audience what experts have known for a long time— that surgical smoke may pose significant risk to us providers. My hope is that there is now a new generation of advocates for cleaning the air in operating rooms across our country, demonstrating the same level of responsible care for each other that we have always shown to our patients.”  - Peter DiPasco, MD FACS Surgeon 

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