Air Quality in Operating Theatres: The Occupational Point of View

Spagnoli, Giuseppe; Tranfo, G.; Moccaldi, R

doi:10.1007/978-94-015-8773-0_19

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…As already reported, there is a relationship between the CO 2 production and other contaminants generated within an operating room, in particular with regards to anaesthetic gases. According to Spagnoli et al [22], the CO 2 concentration normally follows the same tendency as other gases such as anaesthetic gases. Thus, the results suggest that the concentration of anaesthetic gases inside the room would tend to be high during the surgical procedure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Generally, the level of CO 2 generated indoors can be considered as good indicator of the efficiency of the air conditioning system in the process of air renewal [22]. In other words, elevated CO 2 concentrations can be related to an increase of other indoor contaminant concentrations, which result from reduced ventilation [18,[22][23][24]. CO 2 , being a common gas and a basic indicator of air quality, can also be used to simulate any other waste anaesthetic gas in operating rooms, since, normally, the CO 2 contamination trend follows that of anaesthetics [18,20,22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In other words, elevated CO 2 concentrations can be related to an increase of other indoor contaminant concentrations, which result from reduced ventilation [18,[22][23][24]. CO 2 , being a common gas and a basic indicator of air quality, can also be used to simulate any other waste anaesthetic gas in operating rooms, since, normally, the CO 2 contamination trend follows that of anaesthetics [18,20,22]. Additionally, CO 2 concentration can be an indirect indicator of the occurrence of post-operative wound infections [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Particle and Carbon Dioxide Concentration Levels in a Surgical Room Conditioned with a Window/Wall Air-Conditioning System

Pereira¹,

Tribess

Buonanno

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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One of the most important functions of air conditioning systems in operating rooms is to protect occupants against pathogenic agents transported by air. This protection is done by simultaneously controlling the air distribution, temperature, humidity, filtration and infiltration from other areas etc. Due to their low price, simple installation, operation and maintenance, window/wall air conditioning system have largely been used in operating rooms in Brazil, even if these types of equipment only recirculate the air inside the room without appropriate filtration and renovation with outdoor air. In this context, this work aims to analyse the performance of the window/wall air conditioning systems on indoor air ventilation in operating rooms by measuring particle number concentrations and carbon dioxide concentrations during different surgical procedures, in a single surgical room and in the nearby areas (corridor) for two cases: single surgery and two subsequent surgeries. In addition, the efficiency of the analysed air conditioning system was evaluated by comparing the ventilation level calculated in the surgical room with the ventilation required in order to maintain the carbon dioxide concentration within acceptable levels. The results showed that this type of air conditioning system is not appropriate for use in operating rooms since it cannot provide an adequate level of ventilation. The CO2 concentrations during surgeries, in fact, significantly exceeded acceptable values and a simultaneous increase in particle number concentration was observed. The results also showed that there is a high risk of contamination between subsequent surgeries in the same surgical room, due to residues of contaminants transported by the particles emitted during the surgeries that were not removed from the operating room by the air conditioning system. The particle number concentration measured in the second surgery, in fact, was approximately six times higher than in the first surgery.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Particle and Carbon Dioxide Concentration Levels in a Surgical Room Conditioned with a Window/Wall Air-Conditioning System

Pereira¹,

Tribess

Buonanno

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…Health care personnel are occupationally exposed to several potentially harmful gases, vapours, and dusts [1]. For example, when the patient is anaesthetised during surgery the waste anaesthetic gases may affect exposed personnel [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of the Environment in Operating Theatres in Two Hospitals

Holcátová

Benešová

Hartlová³

2003

Indoor and Built Environment

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Hospitals and other health care facilities are complex environments that require specialised ventilation for the comfort of patients, personnel and visitors and to control hazardous emissions. Among the most highly specialised environments in hospitals are operating theatres. Health care personnel who work in surgical suites are potentially exposed to a number of airborne hazards and an environment that relies on ventilation to achieve a high air quality. We have tried to compare such environments in two very different hospitals with different exposures to different risk factors. The hospitals were the University Hospital in Prague which is located in the centre of the city in historical buildings and Homolka Hospital. The latter is one of the newest mono-block hospitals in Prague, well equipped; smaller than the University Hospital but specialised (with Leksell Gamma Knife facilities for neurosurgery). We compared the concentrations of anaesthetic gases and room temperature during operations in theatres at the two hospitals with or without air-conditioning. The positive effect of ventilation systems was confirmed provided the systems were properly operated and well maintained. However, it is best to identify and control at source airborne pollutants since this is the most effective way of reducing or preventing of indoor air quality problems, followed by other measures including ventilation.

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Isoflurane [MAK Value Documentation, 2007]

Hartwig

2016

The MAK‐Collection for Occupational Health and Safety

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The article contains sections titled: Toxic Effects and Mode of Action Mechanism of Action Toxicokinetics and Metabolism Absorption Metabolism Effects in Humans Biomonitoring Single exposure Repeated exposures Other effects Animal Experiments and in vitro Studies Acute toxicity Reproductive toxicity Manifesto (MAK value, classification)

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Air Quality in Operating Theatres: The Occupational Point of View

Cited by 5 publications

References 3 publications

Particle and Carbon Dioxide Concentration Levels in a Surgical Room Conditioned with a Window/Wall Air-Conditioning System

Particle and Carbon Dioxide Concentration Levels in a Surgical Room Conditioned with a Window/Wall Air-Conditioning System

Comparison of the Environment in Operating Theatres in Two Hospitals

Isoflurane [MAK Value Documentation, 2007]

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