Olympus Supports Safety Actions from The Joint Commission Regarding Hazardous Gases and Vapors in the O.R.

Controlling Aerosolized Particles in Laparoscopic Surgery Is Critical to Safety of Surgical Staff

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., (April 8, 2021) – Olympus announced today its support of The Joint Commission’s recommended safety actions for managing the hazards of exposure to surgical smoke for healthcare staff in operating rooms. The primary recommendation is for healthcare organizations to protect their staff by implementing “standard procedures for the removal of surgical smoke and plume.” The safety actions also note, importantly, that exposure to surgical smoke presents a low risk to patients.

Surgical smoke can be hazardous to the health of people working within the surgical suite. Made up of gases and vapors, it is the byproduct of tissue treated with electrical surgical devices, and it contains bioaerosols, viruses and chemicals, some of which are known carcinogens. The hazards include acute exposure to aerosolized viruses that can lead to infection and long-term, chronic exposure that can lead to debilitating illnesses.

Leading healthcare and governmental organizations advocate the use of smoke management devices to reduce the risk of potential exposure to aerosolized contaminants. These include the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Three U.S. states, Rhode Island, Colorado and Kentucky, have passed laws mandating that hospitals install local exhaust ventilation systems in procedure rooms to control smoke and reduce the risk of staff exposure, and legislation has been introduced in eight other states (Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, New Jersey, Oregon, and Texas), with legislation pending introduction in other states.

According to the literature cited in The Joint Commission’s safety actions to consider, “nanoparticles comprise 80% of surgical smoke and are the real danger of inhaled smoke.i These are less than 100 nanometers in size (i.e., 0.1 micron), and when inhaled, enter a person’s blood and lymphatic circulatory systems, and travel to various distant organs.ii”

“Using an effective surgical smoke management device is essential to minimizing the risk of exposure for surgical teams in the operating room,” said Ross “Rusty” Segan, MD, MBA, FACS, Chief Medical Officer for Olympus Corporation. “Healthcare professionals are rightly concerned about risks posed by bioaerosols, especially during the pandemic, and from long-term exposure. However, we must find safe ways to continue performing surgical procedures using minimally invasive techniques because of the significant clinical benefits this type of surgery offers patients.”

Olympus offers a suite of solutions for managing surgical smoke, including an innovative means to control bioaerosols. The 510(k)-cleared Ultravision system suppresses the aerosolization of surgical smoke and mist using the highly characterized process of electrostatic precipitation, removing particulates as small as 0.007µm — smaller than any known virus — from the atmosphere. Clinical research has shown that Ultravision prevents the release of surgical smoke into the operating room, reduces patient CO2 exposure and facilitates “low pressure” laparoscopic surgery.iii,iv

“The safety of surgical staff is important, now more than ever,” said Dominic Griffiths CEO of Alesi Surgical. “With continued guidance from professional organizations and new legal mandates, these risks are now better understood and will lead to greater adoption of solutions for eliminating surgical smoke from the operating room.”

For more information about Ultravision, which is distributed exclusively in the U.S. by Olympus, visit https://medical.olympusamerica.com/products/ultravision.

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About Olympus
Olympus is passionate about the solutions it creates for the medical, life sciences, and industrial equipment industries, as well as cameras and audio products.

Olympus’ Medical business uses innovative capabilities in medical technology, therapeutic intervention, and precision manufacturing to help healthcare professionals deliver diagnostic, therapeutic, and minimally invasive procedures to improve clinical outcomes, reduce overall costs, and enhance the quality of life for patients. Olympus’ Medical portfolio includes endoscopes, laparoscopes, and video imaging systems, as well as surgical energy devices, system integration solutions, medical services, and a wide range of endotherapy instruments. For more information, visit https://www.olympus-global.com.


  1. Buzea C, et al. Nanomaterials and nanoparticles: Sources and toxicity. Biointerphases, 2007;2(4):MR17-MR71.
  2. Nemmar A, et al. Passage of inhaled particles into the blood circulation in humans. Circulation, 2002;105(4):411-414.
  3. Ansell J, et al. Electrostatic precipitation is a novel way of maintaining visual field clarity during laparoscopic surgery: a prospective double-blind randomized controlled pilot study. Surg Endosc. 2014;28(7):2057-2065. doi:10.1007/s00464-014-3427-8;
  4. Levine D, et al. Electrostatic Precipitation in Low Pressure Laparoscopic Hysterectomy and Myomectomy. Manuscript submitted for publication.