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staff are working within this poten- tial laser danger area. The patient’s eyes should always be protected from an accidental laser energy exposure. Proper protocols should be in place to prevent possible ignition sources in or near the beam path.” Special attention also needs to be paid to ENT procedures that increase the risk of airway fires or fires stemming from ignition of an oxygen-enriched environment. “Specialty surgical ENT laser team training and ENT laser safety poli- cies should be an integral part of the ASC involved in these types of pro- cedures,” Pollard says. Another integral component of a
safe surgical environment is proper maintenance of laser equipment and accessories, Pollard says. “Laser equip-
ment preventative maintenance should be performed and documented as often as the manufacturer recommends by a properly trained laser technician. A poorly operating laser or laser deliv- ery device can not only be dangerous, but will certainly contribute to a laser program that is considered unreliable, inefficient and costly.”
Prepare for the Future Certain that new laser technol- ogy will find its way into ASCs in the future, Pollard advises all ASC MLSOs to start now to learn to rec- ognize and properly manage the new technologies. “The advent of the cur- rent technological advancements of semiconductor-based lasers (e.g., diode lasers) offers the possibility of very small stature Class 4 laser
systems that will offer wavelengths throughout the
visible and invisi-
ble spectrums,” she says. “As these systems begin to become more com- mon in ASCs today, they are often unrecognized as potentially danger- ous Class 4 lasers because they have small profiles and are possibly even sold as part of a tower component system. “ASCs need to acknowledge this
exciting reality, and yet be prepared to ensure a continued safe and effec- tive path into the new world of bio- photonics,” she says. “The influx of these new semiconductor-type lasers and the amazing growth of knowledge of biophotonics will no doubt have a large impact on devices that may quietly be integrated into our ASCs. Make sure you are prepared.”
18 ASC FOCUS JUNE/JULY 2014
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