Abstract: An evacuation unit and method for using the unit for controlling the release from a body cavity of aerosolized blood and other body fluids or other contaminants contained in the gas present in the body cavity during an endoscopic surgical procedure is disclosed. The unit includes a port in fluid communication with the body cavity through which the contaminated gas passes to an evacuation connector having a first end in fluid communication with the port and a second end and an aerosol trap in fluid communication with the second end of the evacuation connector such that the aerosol-containing gas is able to flow from the connector through the aerosol trap whereby the aerosolized fluids or other contaminants in the gas are prevented from entering the atmosphere of the operating room. The connector preferably has a flow control valve between the ends.