title: [Comparison of waste anesthetic gases in operating rooms with or without an scavenging system in a Brazilian University Hospital].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Occupational exposure to waste anesthetic gases in operating room (OR) without active scavenging system has been associated with adverse health effects. Thus, this study aimed to compare the trace concentrations of the inhaled anesthetics isoflurane and sevoflurane in OR with and without central scavenging system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Waste concentrations of isoflurane and sevoflurane were measured by infrared analyzer at different locations (near the respiratory area of the assistant nurse and anesthesiologist and near the anesthesia station) and at two times (30 and 120minutes after the start of surgery) in both OR types.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All isoflurane and sevoflurane concentrations in unscavenged OR were higher than the US recommended limit (2 parts per million), regardless of the location and time evaluated. In scavenged OR, the average concentrations of isoflurane were within the limit of exposure, except for the measurements near the anesthesia station, regardless of the measurement times. For sevoflurane, concentrations exceeded the limit value at all measurement locations and at both times.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The exposure to both anesthetics exceeded the international limit in unscavenged OR. In scavenged OR, the concentrations of sevoflurane, and to a lesser extent those of isoflurane, exceeded the recommended limit value. Thus, the OR scavenging system analyzed in the present study decreased the anesthetic concentrations, although not to the internationally recommended values.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP), Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas, Botucatu, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Leandro Gobbo
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Braz
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP), Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas, Botucatu, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: José Reinaldo Cerqueira
authors.initials: JRC
authors.lastname: Braz
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP), Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas, Botucatu, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Guilherme Aparecido Silva
authors.initials: GAS
authors.lastname: Cavalcante
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP), Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas, Botucatu, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Kátina Meneghetti
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP), Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas, Botucatu, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Lorena Mendes de Carvalho
authors.initials: LMC
authors.lastname: Lucio
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP), Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas, Botucatu, SP, Brasil. Electronic address: mgbraz@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mariana Gobbo
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Braz
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000032:analysis*; D001938:Brazil; D015920:Gas Scavengers; D006785:Hospitals, University; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000032:analysis*; D009873:Operating Rooms; D000077149:Sevoflurane / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D007530:Isoflurane
keywords: Anestésicos inalatórios; Exposição ocupacional; Indoor air pollution; Inhaled anesthetics; Occupational exposure; Operating rooms; Poluição do ar em ambientes fechados; Salas cirúrgicas