Distribution of Waste Anesthetic Gases in the Operating Room Air

Occupational Exposure of Veterinarians to Waste Anesthetic Gases

“…The results of the 38 surgeries monitored are illustrated in Table I This parallels others' findings (8,37) and supports the statement that the molecular weight, density (44) and gas buoyancy (8) are negligible in the gas distribution of low concentration gas mixtures. The trend observed for multiple, back to back surgeries was the same for both halothane and methoxyflurane -a gradual build-up of anesthetic gas in the surgical room even with the use of scavenging.…”

A follow-up study on occupational exposure to inhaled anaesthetics in Eastern European surgeons and circulating nurses

“…4) led to a decrease of nitrous oxide and halothane TWA values at the measurement point``surgeon'', but not at the measurement point``circulating nurse'' (Tables 3 and 4). Although occupational exposure is lower with air-conditioning than without, there may be areas in the operating theatre, even with air-conditioning, where venting of waste gases is not sucient [17]. The second workplace equipped with an air-conditioning system (and an active scavenging device) was workplace no.…”

Theatre Ventilation

“…The concentration of anaesthetic and waste gases in the operating theatre can be predicted for nonrecirculating air-conditioning systems by the formula: This assumes perfect mixing of the gases within theatre, which is not observed in practice except with air-conditioning systems that create major floor-toceiling eddies such as entrainment type inlets delivering flows of 15-20 Ac h-1 ) (Piziali et al, 1976). However, for a given leak rate of anaesthetic gas under ideal conditions when the theatre is not in use, the trace concentrations should vary inversely as the ventilation rate of the theatre.…”