Campaign launched for compulsory smoke evacuation devices in theatres

A woman who has worked in operating theatres for over 30 years has launched a nationwide government petition to make the use of smoke evacuation devices compulsory in all theatres.

Kathy Nabbie, who works as a surgical first assistant and scrub theatre practitioner, says thousands of healthcare workers are routinely exposed to harmful smoke that is produced by electrosurgery, due to the lack of evacuation devices within theatres.

Kathy, who has never smoked in her life, suffered with chronic bronchitis which she claims was a direct result of exposure to the toxic chemicals circulating in operating theatres and is now unable to scrub, or even circulate in operating theatres where smoke evacuation devices are not used. She is hoping that all healthcare workers are able to work in a smoke free environment.

She said: “In 2007, smoking bans were introduced in the UK, yet we are still “smoking” within operating theatres because some healthcare professionals are reluctant to use evacuation technology. 

“This continues to put perioperative staff, visitors and patients at risk of breathing in many harmful compounds found in surgical smoke plume, including hydrogen cyanide.”

Surgical smoke plume is visible to the naked eye and releases a distinctive odour. If not correctly evacuated using industry-approved local evacuation ventilation systems (LEVs), it can be inhaled by theatre staff and re-absorbed.

Since the launch of the petition, Kathy has been supported by the Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) - the UK’s leading membership organisation for perioperative practitioners who put patient safety at the heart of all they do.

Lindsay Keeley, patient safety & quality lead of the association, said: “What Kathy is doing is amazing and we are delighted to be supporting the campaign. It is important that we work together to raise awareness of the harmful effects of surgical smoke plume and attempt to make the use of evacuation devices mandatory in all theatres. It is a risk for both patients and staff, so we must ensure that appropriate guidelines and procedures are in place to address the hazards of surgical smoke plume.”