Laparoscopic Surgical Smoke Absorbed Into Bloodstream

Surgical smoke from laparoscopic surgery has harmful byproducts that are absorbed into the patient’s bloodstream, reaching toxic levels, new research shows. Patients treated by laser or electrosurgery through a scope had acutely highter levels of methemoglobin and carboxyhemoglobin in their blood than control patients who had surgery using nonthermal methods.