Biomaterial Database

Noise pollution in the operating room: a hazard to surgeons, personnel, and patients. 1992

C D Ray, and R Levinson

Institute for Low Back Care, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55407.

Noise levels up to 118 dB--a level that is potentially damaging to the hearing--were measured in the operating room, notably during the use of high-speed gas turbine bone-cutting drills. Suction tips, which had trapped tissue "whistles" inside, yielded noise levels of up to 96 dB. Surgeons, staff, and patients should be cautioned against such noises and shielded in prolonged cases. We offer a review of acoustical criteria for various practical noises and duration of safe exposure.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007431	Intraoperative Complications	Complications that affect patients during surgery. They may or may not be associated with the disease for which the surgery is done, or within the same surgical procedure.	Peroperative Complications,Surgical Injuries,Complication, Intraoperative,Complication, Peroperative,Injuries, Surgical,Complications, Intraoperative,Complications, Peroperative,Injury, Surgical,Intraoperative Complication,Peroperative Complication,Surgical Injury
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009622	Noise	Any sound which is unwanted or interferes with HEARING other sounds.	Noise Pollution,Noises,Pollution, Noise
D009784	Occupational Diseases	Diseases caused by factors involved in one's employment.	Diseases, Occupational,Occupational Illnesses,Disease, Occupational,Illnesse, Occupational,Illnesses, Occupational,Occupational Disease,Occupational Illnesse
D009873	Operating Rooms	Facilities equipped for performing surgery.	Operating Room,Room, Operating,Rooms, Operating
D004430	Ear Protective Devices	Personal devices for protection of the ears from loud or high intensity noise, water, or cold. These include earmuffs and earplugs.	Earplugs,Hearing Protective Devices,Earmuffs,Device, Ear Protective,Device, Hearing Protective,Devices, Ear Protective,Devices, Hearing Protective,Ear Protective Device,Earmuff,Earplug,Hearing Protective Device,Protective Device, Ear,Protective Device, Hearing,Protective Devices, Ear,Protective Devices, Hearing
D006319	Hearing Loss, Sensorineural	Hearing loss resulting from damage to the COCHLEA and the sensorineural elements which lie internally beyond the oval and round windows. These elements include the AUDITORY NERVE and its connections in the BRAINSTEM.	Deafness Neurosensory,Deafness, Neurosensory,Deafness, Sensoryneural,Neurosensory Deafness,Sensorineural Hearing Loss,Sensoryneural Deafness,Cochlear Hearing Loss,Hearing Loss, Cochlear,Deafnesses, Neurosensory,Deafnesses, Sensoryneural,Neurosensory Deafnesses,Sensoryneural Deafness,Sensoryneural Deafnesses
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults