Biomaterial Database

Distribution of waste anesthetic gases in the operating room air. 1976

R L Piziali, and C Whitcher, and R Sher, and R J Moffat

Epidemiologic and animal studies identify a strong relationship between chronic exposure to anesthetic gases and health hazards. Efforts to reduce exposure of personnel require an understanding of the distribution of anesthetic waste gases in the operating room air. Concentrations of nitrous oxide and halothane were measured at numerous stations throughout an operating room and a delivery room in the absence of personnel. Air conditioning flow rates and flow patterns were varied, as was the height of the anesthetic gas source. Air flow patterns were found to dominate the anesthetic gas distribution, while buoyancy effects were negligible. Venting waste gases at the floor does not significantly reduce exposure of personnel. Areas of high concentration were observed; their occurrences and locations varied strongly with air flow patterns. The exhaust grille is the best location for a single measurement of the average room concentration. Recirculating air-conditioning systems reduce energy costs; however, only the non-recirculating portion of the air exchanges reduces waste gas concentrations.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009609	Nitrous Oxide	Nitrogen oxide (N2O). A colorless, odorless gas that is used as an anesthetic and analgesic. High concentrations cause a narcotic effect and may replace oxygen, causing death by asphyxia. It is also used as a food aerosol in the preparation of whipping cream.	Laughing Gas,Nitrogen Protoxide,Gas, Laughing,Oxide, Nitrous
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
D006221	Halothane	A nonflammable, halogenated, hydrocarbon anesthetic that provides relatively rapid induction with little or no excitement. Analgesia may not be adequate. NITROUS OXIDE is often given concomitantly. Because halothane may not produce sufficient muscle relaxation, supplemental neuromuscular blocking agents may be required. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p178)	1,1,1-Trifluoro-2-Chloro-2-Bromoethane,Fluothane,Ftorotan,Narcotan
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000388	Air	The mixture of gases present in the earth's atmosphere consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other gases.
D000389	Air Conditioning	The maintenance of certain aspects of the environment within a defined space to facilitate the function of that space; aspects controlled include air temperature and motion, radiant heat level, moisture, and concentration of pollutants such as dust, microorganisms, and gases. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Air Revitalization,Climate Control,Air Conditionings,Air Revitalizations,Climate Controls,Conditioning, Air,Conditionings, Air,Control, Climate,Controls, Climate,Revitalization, Air,Revitalizations, Air
D000392	Air Movements	The motion of air currents.	Air Movement,Movement, Air,Movements, Air
D000777	Anesthetics	Agents capable of inducing a total or partial loss of sensation, especially tactile sensation and pain. They may act to induce general ANESTHESIA, in which an unconscious state is achieved, or may act locally to induce numbness or lack of sensation at a targeted site.	Anesthetic,Anesthetic Agents,Anesthetic Drugs,Anesthetic Effect,Anesthetic Effects,Agents, Anesthetic,Drugs, Anesthetic,Effect, Anesthetic,Effects, Anesthetic
D014691	Ventilation	Supplying a building or house, their rooms and corridors, with fresh air. The controlling of the environment thus may be in public or domestic sites and in medical or non-medical locales. (From Dorland, 28th ed)	Ventilations