Up in Smoke
This type of localized suction device must be positioned within 2 inches of the surgical site to capture plume before it reaches the breathing zone.
What is a Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) / Smoke Evacuator?
Under Maryland law, facilities performing surgical procedures must fully adopt written smoke evacuation policies by this deadline.
What is January 1, 2028?
Under OSHA’s General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1), employers must keep the workplace free from these.
Answer: What are recognized hazards?
This common electrosurgical tool burns tissue through extreme heat, generating significant airborne plume in seconds.
What is an electrocautery pencil / ESU?
To prevent contaminated corridor air from entering the sterile field, operating rooms must maintain this type of relative air pressure.
Answer: What is positive pressure?
Standard surgical masks do not protect against plume; healthcare workers must wear this type of respirator during high-hazard procedures.
What is an N95 (or higher) respirator?
This Maryland state agency conducts licensing inspections and CMS re-certification surveys for freestanding surgery centers.
What is the Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ)?
This accrediting organization evaluates ASC compliance against national standards like AORN and NIOSH during accreditation surveys.
Answer: What is AAAHC?
True or False: Ophthalmic femtosecond lasers like the Alcon LenSx® emit airborne surgical plume into the operating room.
Answer: What is False?
Under CMS and ASHRAE 170 standards, an Operating Room must achieve a minimum of this many total Air Changes per Hour (ACH).
What is 20 Air Changes per Hour (20 ACH)?
Bioaerosols, toxic gases like benzene/formaldehyde, and fine particulate matter are the three main components of this surgical byproduct.
What is surgical plume (or surgical smoke)?
This Maryland bill, enacted as Chapter 794, officially requires all health care facilities to implement smoke evacuation policies.
What is House Bill 1087 (HB 1087)?
CMS mandates compliance with this code published by the National Fire Protection Association to ensure building safety.
Answer: What is the Life Safety Code (NFPA 101)?
Femtosecond lasers separate tissue via this physical process, converting microscopic points into plasma rather than burning tissue.
What is photo disruption?
Of the 20 total air changes per hour required in an OR, at least this many must be fresh outdoor air.
Answer: What is 4?
Using standard OR wall suction to capture high-volume surgical smoke is unsafe because it can damage central vacuum lines and lacks this critical sub-micron filter.
What is an ULPA (or in-line 0.1 µm HEPA) filter?
Maryland’s state-level OSHA plan, which enforces workplace safety and respiratory protection programs, goes by this acronym.
What is MOSH (Maryland Occupational Safety and Health)?
OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.134 dictates that facilities must maintain a written program, perform fit-testing, and provide medical clearance for this safety equipment.
Answer: What are respirators / Respiratory Protection?
The microscopic gas bubbles produced during femtosecond laser cataract surgery consist primarily of these two non-toxic compounds.
What are Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Water (H20)?
The acceptable relative humidity range required in a certified surgical suite to prevent microbial growth and static risks.
Answer: What is 20% to 60%?
According to NFPA 99 Section 9.3.8, smoke evacuators must capture plume as close as possible to this specific point.
What is the site/point of origin (or generation)?
The title under Code of Maryland Regulations that specifically governs Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical Facilities is _________ 10.05.01.
What is COMAR?
This engineering standard adopted by CMS sets the benchmark for healthcare facility ventilation, humidity, and temperature.
Answer: What is ASHRAE Standard 170?
Dedicated smoke evacuation wands are required in eye surgery when performing this type of eyelid or oculoplastic procedure using heat.
Answer: What is blepharoplasty (or skin resurfacing / wet-field cautery)?
Facility staff must log these three physical environment parameters daily to prove CMS and AAAHC HVAC compliance.
Answer: What are Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Pressure Differential?