Efficacy of an aerosol suction device and a drape in reducing surgical smoke exposure to patients and anesthesiologists: a prospective randomized controlled study

Why clinicians should know about it

• Picked for Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine (paper of the day, 20 July 2026).

Abstract

PURPOSE: Surgical smoke generated during the use of an electrosurgical unit is a source of pollution, but preventive methods for patients and anesthesiologists have been insufficiently studied. METHODS: A total of 120 elective abdominal or breast surgeries were randomly allocated to one of three circumstances: the use of an aerosol suction device (Free-100 M®, Forest-One, Chiba, Japan), a surgical drape placed between the surgical field and the patient's head, or none. Counts of airborne particles were measured at the patient's head and at the anesthesiologist's position before and during the use of an electrosurgical unit. RESULTS: The use of the suction device significantly reduced the counts of aerosol at the patient's position (P < 0.001, 95% CI for median difference: - 342,957/L, - 144,576/L), and at the anesthesiologist's position (P < 0.001, 95% CI - 270,894/L, - 111,422/L). The use of the drape also significantly reduced the counts at the patient's position (P < 0.001, 95% CI - 460,837/L, - 247,737/L) and at the anesthesiologist's position (P < 0.001, 95% CI - 344,673/L, - 190,364/L). The drape was significantly more effective than the suction device in reducing the counts (P < 0.001, 95% CI - 97,105/L, - 42,333/L at the patient's position; P < 0.001, 95% CI - 100,495/L, - 29,594/L at the anesthesiologist's position). CONCLUSIONS: Both the aerosol suction device and a drape between the surgical field and the patient's head can reduce the amount of surgical smoke to the patients and anesthesiologists, and the drape would be more effective.

Abstract as published, via PubMed.