Devices and methods for vacuum-assisted removal of surgically contaminated gas from an insufflated body cavity, the contaminants comprising smoke, aerosols, vapor, mist and the like generated during surgical procedures in order to clear the surgeons vision of the surgical site and prevent exposure of the surgical staff to the gas. One embodiment of the present invention comprises a series of flow restriction devices to enable stepping down of the flow rate generated by an external vacuum. This reduced flow rate allows safe yet rapid removal of the toxic and vision-obstructing surgical byproducts from the patients body cavity. The initial flow restriction device may comprise a perforated trocar sleeve in fluid communication with the vacuum source that allows retention of the surgical instrument within the trocars inner lumen with concurrent smoke removal. The flow rate is infinitely variable, adjustable and selectable using a flow control adjuster comprising a smoothly varying orifice.
