title: Occupational exposure to desflurane and isoflurane during cardiopulmonary bypass: is the gas outlet of the membrane oxygenator an operating theatre pollution hazard?
abstract: We have compared occupational exposure to isoflurane and desflurane during cardiopulmonary bypass, with and without a scavenging system at the membrane oxygenator outlet. Trace concentrations of volatile anaesthetics were measured by a direct reading instrument in 40 elective heart surgery procedures. Measurements were obtained in the breathing zones of the anaesthetist and perfusionist. When a scavenging system was used, median desflurane values were less than 0.3 ppm and isoflurane values less than 0.2 ppm. Without a scavenging system values were, in general, three- (isoflurane) to five- (desflurane) fold higher. We conclude that the use of a scavenging system at the membrane oxygenator outlet can reduce occupational exposure to volatile anaesthetics. We therefore recommend routine use of scavenging devices during cardiopulmonary bypass.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital, Department of Anaesthesiology (B), University Hospital of Vienna.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoerauf
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harth
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hobbhahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D000077335:Desflurane; D005260:Female; D015920:Gas Scavengers; D006801:Humans; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009873:Operating Rooms; D010107:Oxygenators, Membrane
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D000077335:Desflurane; D007530:Isoflurane