Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: January | Volume: 9 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 138-144
Investigation of Surgical Smoke Symptoms and Preventive Measures in Turkish Operating Rooms
Meryem Yavuz Van Giersbergen1, Aliye Okgun Alcan2, Senay Kaymakci3, Esma Ozsaker4, Elif Dirimese5
1PhD, Professor in Ege University, Faculty of Nursing, Surgical Nursing Department, Izmir, Turkey
2PhD, Assistant Professor in Bakircay University, Faculty of Health Sciences Nursing Department, Izmir, Turkey
3PhD, Association Professor, Retired Lecturer, Izmir, Turkey
4PhD, Assistant Professor in Ege University, Faculty of Nursing, Surgical Nursing Department, Izmir, Turkey
5PhD, Assistant Professor in Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University, Turkey
Corresponding Author: Esma Ozsaker
ABSTRACT
Background: Operating room nurses are routinely exposed to surgical smoke which causes a range of adverse health symptoms and effects.
Objective: The objective of this descriptive study was to investigate surgical smoke symptoms and preventive measures in Turkish Operating Rooms.
Methods: The sample of this descriptive study comprised 672 operating room nurses who attended Turkish Surgical and Operating Room Nurses Association’s scientific meetings. For data collection, a survey was developed by the researches in accordance with the related literature of. In the survey contained a total of 41 questions determining socio-demographic data as well as the symptom experiences related with surgical smoke and surgical smoke control measure practices.
Results: It was determined that 73.2% (n:492) of the nurses had at least one symptom related to surgical smoke exposure. The Operating Room nurses most suffer from acute and chronic inflammatory respiratory changes (57.3%), headache (51.2%), nausea or vomiting (39.1%) and hypoxia or dizziness (34.1%). Only 8.2% (n: 55) nurses indicated that the institution which they are working have protocols for surgical smoke. 65.0% Of the nurses indicated that they use surgical masks to protect themselves against surgical smoke.
Conclusions: As a result, it was found that preventive measures in the operating rooms are inadequate and Turkish operating room nurses have adverse symptoms caused by surgical smoke.
Key words: Surgical smoke, operating room nursing, occupational exposure