Analysis of electrocautery generated smoke by chromatographic-mass spectrometry

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the chemical components of the smoke from electrocautery from coagulating muscle and liver tissues of pigs. Methods: we collected smoke produced by electrocautery applied to porcine tissue in previously evacuated bottles, with qualitative and quantitative analysis of the compounds present through the hyphenated technique gas chromatography / mass spectrometry. Results: there was a majority of decanal aldehyde in the fumes from the subcutaneous, muscle and liver tissues. Fumes of subcutaneous and muscular tissues also showed the presence of hexanal and phenol. In the fumes of subcutaneous and liver tissues we also found toluene and limonene and, finally, nonanal smoke was present in the muscle and liver tissues. Conclusion: there is increasing evidence showing that smoke from electrocautery used in subcutaneous, muscle and liver tissue is harmful to human health. Thus, there is need to reduce exposure to it or wear masks with filters capable of retaining these particles.

摘要：研究目的：分析电灼凝固猪肌肉与肝脏组织过程中产生的烟雾的化学成分。研究方法：将猪组织电灼操作产生的烟雾收集至预先抽真空的采样瓶中，采用气相色谱-质谱联用法（gas chromatography/mass spectrometry）对其中含有的化合物进行定性与定量分析。研究结果：皮下、肌肉及肝脏组织的电灼烟雾中，癸醛均为主要成分；皮下与肌肉组织的烟雾中还检出己醛与苯酚；皮下与肝脏组织的烟雾中检出甲苯与柠檬烯；肌肉与肝脏组织的烟雾中同时检出壬醛。研究结论：现有越来越多的证据表明，用于皮下、肌肉及肝脏组织的电灼烟雾对人体健康具有危害性，因此需降低此类暴露风险，或佩戴可截留此类颗粒物的过滤口罩。