title: Faulty anesthesia circuits: a source of environmental pollution in the operating room.
abstract: Commonly used disposable anesthesia circuits were studied for leak and gas spillage. Trace anesthetic gas concentrations produced by these circuits in the anesthesiologist's breathing zone were analyzed by a Hewlett-Packard Gas Chromatograph. These measurements demonstrated ambient halothane (3.29 +/- 0.1 ppm) and N2O (333.5 +/- 2.31 ppm) concentrations well above target levels, when swivel-type disposable anesthesia circuits were used, despite the presence of standard gas-scavenging devices and appropriate operating room fresh air exchange rates. Lower ambient concentration levels (0.38 +/- 0.03 ppm halothane and 31.3 +/- 1.49 ppm N2O) were measured when Y-type disposable anesthesia circuits were used.
mesh_terms: D000388:Air / Q000032:analysis*; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000032:analysis*; D004209:Disposable Equipment / Q000592:standards; D006221:Halothane / Q000032:analysis; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D009873:Operating Rooms
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D006221:Halothane