São João Hospital Assessement of Anesthetic Gases

Authors

  • Maria Norton Interna de Formação Específica de Anestesiologia do Serviço de Anestesiologia do Centro Hospitalar S. João, Porto, Portugal
  • Pedro Norton Diretor do Serviço de Saúde Ocupacional do Centro Hospitalar S. João, Porto, Portugal, EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
  • Daniela Xará Assistente Hospitalar de Anestesiologia do Serviço de Anestesiologia do Centro Hospitalar S. João, Porto, Portugal
  • Fátima Pina Diretora do Serviço de Anestesiologia do Centro Hospitalar S. João, Porto, Portugal.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25751/rspa.6684

Keywords:

Anesthetics, Inhalation, Occupational Exposure, Operating Rooms

Abstract

Introduction

Adverse health effects related with chronic exposure to waste anesthetic gases remaincontroversial. Strict threshold values are recommended to minimize possible health risks.The objective of our study was to measure the concentration of waste anesthetic gases indifferent S. João Hospital places in a 7-year period.

Material and Methods

A retrospective study with bi-annual evaluation of nitrous oxide, sevoflurane and desfluranewas made between 2005 and 2012 in Anesthesiology Department, Operatory Rooms and in the Burn Unit. Trace gas analysis was performed by infrared spectroscopy.

Results

An anesthetic gas concentration above the upper limit of the threshold value was found inthe Burn Unit (54.5%), Computed Tomography/Magnetic Resonance (CT/MR) (38.6%) andAmbulatory Operatory Room (34.5%). Desflurane assessment was more frequently abovethe upper limit of threshold value (16.7%).

Discussion

In Burn Unit patients, sedation/general anesthesia is the most commonly used anesthesia and the inhalatory route is frequently used. In the TC/MR department, the small number ofair cycling per hour and the frequently used of an open ventilation system may explain theresults. Desflurane, being odourless, may be connected to undetected escape.

Conclusions

The places with more occupational risk were the Burn Unit, TC/MR and Ambulatory OperatingRoom. Inadequate ventilation doesn’t seem to explain the majority of out of limit values.It’s necessary the rigorous assessment of anesthetic gases in the Hospital environment.

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Published

2015-12-02

How to Cite

Norton, M., Norton, P., Xará, D., & Pina, F. (2015). São João Hospital Assessement of Anesthetic Gases. Journal of the Portuguese Society of Anesthesiology, 24(4), 94–97. https://doi.org/10.25751/rspa.6684

Issue

Vol. 24 No. 4 (2015)

Section

Original Article

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