الفهرس 
INHALATIONAL POLLUTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
SUMMARY
Safety practices in the operating room are important to emphasize, this assay covers some of the situations that are potentially hazardous in the operating room and discuss what might be done to eliminate the hazards.
Exposure measurements taken in operating rooms during the clinical administration of inhaled anesthetics indicate that waste gases can escape into the room air from various components of the anesthesia delivery system. In addition, selected anesthesia techniques and improper practices also can contribute to the escape of waste anesthetic gases into the operating room atmosphere. Although there have been significant improvements in the control of anesthetic gas pollution in health care facilities, occupational exposure to waste gases still occur.
Inhalational pollution not limited to inhaled anesthetic gases but also includes inhalation of smoke and vapour generated by the use of surgical diathermy and lasers. It represents a potential hazard to anesthesiologist because surgical masks do not filter toxic gases nor trap particles <0.5 mm in diameter and the median diameter of particles produced in smoke plumes is 0.31 mm.
Occupational exposure to a range of pathogens represents a serious risk to anesthesiologist. The risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B and C, are well known, but occupational exposure also includes airborne pathogens such as tuberculosis. The most likely source of an occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens is self-inoculation from a needle during the insertion and suturing of intravascular catheters, the injection of intradermal anesthesia or resheathing of used needles. Transmission may also occur after exposure to body fluids other than blood. As the infection status of most patients is unknown, the adoption of universal precautions for all patients is recommended.
Another potential hazards is the exposure to ionizing radiation from X-rays and to non-ionizing radiation from lasers. Although the dose after an individual exposure may be extremely small, repeated episodes may lead to cumulative exposure with potentially adverse health effects. Exposure to non-ionizing radiation from lasers may occur either through direct exposure or reflection. Resulting injuries include burns to the cornea and retina, destruction of the macula or optic nerve and cataract formation.
Environmental exposure may explain the high rates of addiction among anesthesiologists and why recovery for anesthesiologists often necessitates changing medical specialties. While not as overt as cholorform, ether, or nitrous oxide exposure in the operating rooms of the nineteenth century, exposure to drugs like propofol or fentanyl in the modern day OR may sensitize anesthesiologists to drug use, abuse, overdose and addiction.