Inhalation of surgical smoke: Cohort of signs and symptoms in residents

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the signs and symptoms presented by doctors in surgery and anesthesiology residency programs exposed to surgical smoke. Method: Prospective cohort study with resident doctors exposed to surgical smoke in a teaching hospital. There was 17-month follow-up of residents from the years 2015 and 2016, who met the criteria of being regularly enrolled in a surgery or anesthesiology residency and not being a smoker. The data collection instrument was composed of sociodemographic, academic data and the signs and symptoms related to the inhalation of surgical smoke, cited in the literature. The data analysis was descriptive and inferential, by statistical tests and measures of effect. Results: The sample consisted of 39 residents, of which most were male (56.4%) and below 30 years old (74.3%). There was a prevalence of gynecology and obstetrics residents (30.8%), followed by general surgery (28.2%) and anesthesiology (20.5%). Burning in the pharynx (p=0.030), nausea and vomiting (p=0.018) and eye irritation (p=0.050) occurred in the first year of residence. The risk of developing burning in the pharynx was 7.765 times greater (p=0.019) in females when compared to males. Conclusion: The signs and symptoms analyzed occurred within 12 months of the beginning of the course and the risk of burning in the pharynx was higher in females, which indicates exposure to the risks of inhalation of surgical smoke and, therefore, points to the need for the adoption of individual and collective protection measures.