She opened the binder again. Page 347. Guideline for Preventing Retained Surgical Items. Tomorrow, a different battle. But the same weapon: a book that looked like bureaucracy but felt like love.
As of 2024 updates, AORN fully endorses the use of wall suction or dedicated smoke evacuators for any procedure generating surgical smoke (electrocautery, laser, ultrasonic scalpels). Several US states have now passed laws requiring smoke evacuation, directly citing AORN’s position that surgical smoke contains toxic chemicals and viable viruses (including HPV and HIV). aorn guidelines for perioperative practice