AnilIn a recent Nature article, they examined the levels of compounds in electrocautery smoke and found many similarities to compounds commonly found in cigarette smoke (e.g. acetaldehyde at around 2000mcg per cigarette and butadiene at 130mcg per cigarette). Concentrations measured during inspiratory and expiratory breath analysis during one thoracic surgery are comparable to 1/10 of an unfiltered cigarette. Smilier to cigarette smoking, the risk of OR electrocautery smoke may accumulate and lead to health problems over time.
