The Joint Commission’s safety alert supports removal of surgical smoke

Surgical smoke is a complex issue that has not gained a lot of traction over the years. Legislation to mandate smoke evacuation was introduced more than 20 years ago, but the first law wasn’t passed until 2018, and only three US states thus far have enacted legislation. Release of The Joint Commission’s “Quick Safety Issue 56: Alleviating the dangers of surgical smoke” in December 2020, along with ongoing advocacy efforts and new studies by leading nurse researchers, may help raise awareness of the need to mitigate the hazards of surgical smoke.