• F Schiewe-Langgartner, G Wiesner, M Gruber, and J Hobbhahn.
• Klinik für Anästhesiologie, Universität Regensburg. Frank.Schiewe-Langgartner@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
• Anaesthesist. 2005 Jul 1; 54 (7): 667-72.

BackgroundOccupational exposure to volatile anaesthetics cannot be completely avoided even in modern operating theatres. In 1997, the staff exposure during balanced anaesthesia in our hospital was low (sevoflurane 0.49 ppm; N(2)O 11.5 ppm). In 1999, N(2)O was completely omitted at our hospital, therefore, exposure to volatile anaesthetics, namely sevoflurane, might have increased.MethodsEnvironmental exposure was measured by photoacoustic infrared spectrometry. To determine the personal exposure and to compare it with environmental exposure, 14 anaesthetists wore diffusion samplers near their breathing zones for 1 week.ResultsThe median environmental concentration of sevoflurane was between 0.09 and 0.21 ppm in central operating theatres and between 0 and 24.8 ppm in intervention rooms. The median personal concentration was 0.19 ppm.ConclusionThe occupational exposure to volatile anaesthetics is not higher using sevoflurane alone compared to the combination of sevoflurane and N(2)O. In addition, the data acquired from environmental and personal measurements showed similar results.

23 keywords...

hide…