title: A novel method of personnel cooling in an operating theatre environment.
abstract: An optimized theatre environment, including personal temperature regulation, can help maintain concentration, extend work times and may improve surgical outcomes. However, devices, such as cooling vests, are bulky and may impair the surgeon's mobility. We describe the use of a low-cost, low-energy 'bladeless fan' as a personal cooling device. The safety profile of this device was investigated by testing air quality using 0.5- and 5-µm particle counts as well as airborne bacterial counts on an operating table simulating a wound in a thoracic operation in a busy theatre environment. Particle and bacterial counts were obtained with both an empty and full theatre, with and without the 'bladeless fan'. The use of the 'bladeless fan' within the operating theatre during the simulated operation led to a minor, not statistically significant, lowering of both the particle and bacterial counts. In conclusion, the 'bladeless fan' is a safe, effective, low-cost and low-energy consumption solution for personnel cooling in a theatre environment that maintains the clean room conditions of the operating theatre.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Services, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta aaron.casha@um.edu.mt.
authors.forename: Aaron R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Casha
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Services, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manché
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Faculty of Science, University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Liberato
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Camilleri
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gauci
authors.affiliation: Metamaterials Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Joseph N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Grima
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Control, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Borg
mesh_terms: D000389:Air Conditioning / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000391:Air Microbiology; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D009873:Operating Rooms; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013696:Temperature; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Bladeless fan; Personnel cooling; Theatre safety