Latex allergy: An emerging health hazard for operating theatre staff

Abstract Introduction In the already high-risk, high-stress environment of the operating theatre, operating during Covid-19 has brought its own unique challenges. Communication, teamwork and anxiety related new operating practices secondary to Covid-19 are hypothesised to have a negative impact on patient care. Method We conducted a single-centre online survey of operating theatre staff from 22nd June–6th July 2020. Respondents completed 18 human factors questions related to COVID-19 precautions including communication, teamwork, situational awareness, decision making, stress, fatigue, work environment and organisational culture. Questions consisted of yes/no responses, multiple choice and Likert items. Kruskall-Wallis tests, Chi-Squared, Mann Whitney U tests, Spearman’s correlation coefficient, lambda and Cramer’s V tests were used. Free-text responses were also reviewed. Results 116 theatre staff responded. Visual (90.5%), hearing/ understanding (96.6%) difficulties, feeling faint/lightheaded (66.4%) and stress (47.8%) were reported. Decreased situational awareness was reported by 71.5% and correlated with visors (r = 0.27 and p = 0.03) and FFP2/3 mask usage (r = 0.29 and p = 0.01). Reduced efficiency of theatre teams was reported by 75% of respondents and 21.5% felt patient safety was at greater risk due to Covid-19 precautions in theatre. Conclusions Organisational adjustments are required, and research focused on development of fit-for-purpose personal protective equipment (PPE).

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Fire in operating theatres: DaSH-ing to the rescue

Journal of Perioperative Practice ◽

10.1177/1750458918775556 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (7-8) ◽

pp. 188-193

Author(s):

Liam Wilson ◽

Omer Farooq

Keyword(s):

Patient Care ◽

Fire Safety ◽

Training Session ◽

Operating Theatre ◽

In Situ Simulation ◽

Safe Patient Care ◽

Team Interactions ◽

Operating Theatres ◽

Theatre Staff ◽

Safety Officer

Operating theatres are dynamic environments that require multi professional team interactions. Effective team working is essential for efficient delivery of safe patient care. A fire in the operating theatre is a rare but potentially life threatening event for both patients and staff. A rapid and cohesive response from theatre and allied staff including porters, fire safety officer etc is paramount. We delivered a training session that utilised in situ simulation (simulation in workplace). After conducting needs analysis, learning objectives were agreed. After thorough planning, the date and location of the training session were identified. Contingency plans were put in place to ensure that patient care was not compromised at any point. To ensure success, checklists for faculty were devised and adhered to. A medium fidelity manikin with live monitoring was used. The first part of the scenario involved management of a surgical emergency by theatre staff. The second part involved management of a fire in the operating theatre while an emergency procedure was being undertaken. To achieve maximum learning potential, debriefing was provided immediately after each part of the scenario. A fire safety officer was present as a content expert. Latent errors (hidden errors in the workplace, staff knowledge etc) were identified. Malfunctioning of theatre floor windows and staff unawareness about the location of an evacuation site were some of the identified latent errors. Thorough feedback to address these issues was provided to the participants on the day. A detailed report of the training session was given to the relevant departments. This resulted in the equipment faults being rectified. The training session was a very positive experience and helped not only in improving participants’ knowledge, behaviour and confidence but also it made system and environment better equipped.

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Surgeons in the operating theatre: preparing to lead by example

Bulletin of The Royal College of Surgeons of England ◽

10.1308/147363508x359529 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 90 (9) ◽

pp. 306-307

Author(s):

K Woo

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Patient Safety ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Operating Theatre ◽

Traditional Practices ◽

Consent Forms ◽

Operative Site ◽

Current Climate ◽

Theatre Staff

Surgeons, anaesthetists and theatre staff have always worked to ensure that no harm comes to their patients, particularly within the operating theatre environment. Patient safety and the prevention of adverse events underlie many of our traditional practices such as the use of identity bracelets, consent forms and marking of the operative site. Perhaps even more so today than ever, unnecessary or avoidable mistakes in the operating theatre cannot be afforded, with the current climate of increasing standards of health care and rising expectations.

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Safety of a powder-free latex allergy protocol in the operating theatre

European Journal of Anaesthesiology ◽

10.1097/eja.0000000000000953 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 36 (4) ◽

pp. 312-313 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rudi Stinkens ◽

Nikolaas Verbeke ◽

Marc Van de Velde ◽

Jean-Paul Ory ◽

Esmee Baldussu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Operating Theatre ◽

Latex Allergy

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Air Flow Patterns in the Operating Theatre

Engineering in Medicine ◽

10.1243/emed_jour_1980_009_021_02 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 87-92 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

F H Howorth

Keyword(s):

Air Flow ◽

High Volume ◽

Clinical Results ◽

Flow Patterns ◽

Operating Theatre ◽

Anaesthetic Gases ◽

Theatre Staff ◽

Clean Air ◽

Schlieren Photography ◽

Total Body

Bacteria-carrying particles and exhaled anaesthetic gases are the two contaminants found in the air flow patterns of operating rooms. Their origin, direction and speed were illustrated by a motion picture using Schlieren photography and smoke tracers. Compared with a conventionally well air conditioned operating theatre, it was shown that a downward flow of clean air reduced the number of bacteria-carrying particles at the wound site by sixty times. The Exflow method of achieving this without the restriction of any side panels or floor obstruction was described. The total body exhaust worn by the surgical team was shown to reduce the bacteria count by a further eleven times. Clinical results show that when both these systems are used together, patient infection was reduced from 9 per cent to between 0.3 per cent and 0.5 per cent, even when no pre-operative antibiotics were used. Anaesthetic gas pollution was measured and shown to be generally 1000 p.p.m. at the head of the patient, in induction, operating and recovery rooms, also in dental and labour rooms. A high volume low pressure active scavenging system was described together with its various attachments including one specially for paediatric scavenging. Results showed a reduction of nitrous oxide pollution to between zero and 3 p.p.m. The economy and cost effectiveness of both these pollution control systems was shown to be good due to the removal of health hazards from patients and theatre staff.

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