scholarly journals Flammability of Surgical Drapes and Materials in Varying Concentrations of Oxygen

2013 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 770-776 ◽  
Author(s):  
William C. Culp ◽  
Bradly A. Kimbrough ◽  
Sarah Luna
Keyword(s):  
Operating Room ◽  
Oxygen Concentration ◽  
Ignition Time ◽  
Fire Risk ◽  
Consumer Product Safety Commission ◽  
Operating Room Personnel ◽  
Flammability Characteristics ◽  
Room Fires ◽  
Enriched Environments ◽  
Oxygen Concentrations

Abstract Background: Over 600 operating room fires occur annually although many cases go unreported. Over 81% of operating room fires involve surgical drapes, yet limited data exist on the differing degrees of flammability of drapes and other surgical fuel sources in varying oxygen concentrations. The purpose of this study is to assess the flammability characteristics of fuels in the operating room under varying oxygen concentrations. Methods: Five fuel sources were analyzed in three levels of oxygen: 21%, 50%, and 100%. Three test samples of each material were burned in a manner similar to that established by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Time to sample ignition and time to complete burn were measured with video analysis. Results: The median [minimum, maximum] ignition time in 21% oxygen was 0.9 s [0.3, 1.9], in 50% oxygen 0.4 s [0.1, 1.2], and in 100% oxygen 0.2 s [0.0, 0.4]. The median burn time in 21% oxygen was 20.4 s [7.8, 33.5], in 50% oxygen 3.1 s [1.4, 8.1], and in 100% oxygen 1.7 s [0.6, 2.7]. Time to ignite and total burn times decreased as oxygen concentration increased (P < 0.001). Flammability characteristics differed by material and oxygen concentration. Utility drapes and surgical gowns did not support combustion in room air, whereas other materials quickly ignited. Flash fires were detected on woven cotton materials in oxygen-enriched environments. Conclusions: Operating room personnel should be aware that common materials in the operating room support rapid combustion in oxygen-enriched environments. The risk of ignition and speed of fire propagation increase as oxygen exposure increases. Advances in material science may reduce perioperative fire risk.

Laser Ignition of Surgical Drape Materials in Air, 50% Oxygen, and 95% Oxygen

2004 ◽  
Vol 100 (5) ◽  
pp. 1167-1171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald L. Wolf ◽  
George W. Sidebotham ◽  
Jackson L. P. Lazard ◽  
Jean G. Charchaflieh
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Operating Room ◽  
Oxygen Concentration ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Ignition Source ◽  
Laser Ignition ◽  
Surgical Tools ◽  
Time To Ignition ◽  
Room Fires ◽  
Surgical Laser

Background Operating room fires fueled by surgical drapes and ignited by high-energy surgical tools in air and oxygen-enriched atmospheres continue to occur. Methods The authors examined the time to ignition of huck towels and three commonly used surgical drape materials in air, 50% oxygen, and 95% oxygen using a carbon dioxide surgical laser as an ignition source. In addition, a phenol-polymer fabric was tested. Results In air, polypropylene and phenol polymer do not ignite. For polypropylene, the laser instantly vaporized a hole, and therefore, interaction between the laser and material ceased. When tested in combination with another material, the polypropylene time to ignition assumed the behavior of the material with which it was combined. For phenol polymer, the laser did not penetrate the material. Huck towels, cotton-polyester, and non-woven cellulose-polyester ignited in air with decreasing times to ignition. All tested materials ignited in 50% and 95% oxygen. Conclusion The results of this study reveal that with increasing oxygen concentration, the time to ignition becomes shorter, and the consequences become more severe. The possibility exists for manufacturers to develop drape materials that are safer than existing materials.

Health Experiences of Operating Room Personnel

1985 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie E. Buring ◽  
Charles H. Hennekens ◽  
Sherry L. Mayrent ◽  
Bernard Rosner ◽  
E. Robert Greenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Operating Room ◽  
Operating Room Personnel ◽  
Health Experiences

Oxidative status and DNA damage in operating room personnel

2009 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeynep Baysal ◽  
Mustafa Cengiz ◽  
Abdullah Ozgonul ◽  
Muslum Cakir ◽  
Hakim Celik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Operating Room ◽  
Oxidative Status ◽  
Operating Room Personnel

Effect of oxygen concentration and temperature on ignition time of polypropylene

2012 ◽  
Vol 110 (1) ◽  
pp. 485-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jozef Martinka ◽  
Karol Balog ◽  
Tomáš Chrebet ◽  
Emília Hroncová ◽  
Janka Dibdiaková
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Concentration ◽  
Ignition Time ◽  
Effect Of Oxygen

Lack of Mutagens in Urines of Operating Room Personnel

1980 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Baden ◽  
Merijean Kelley ◽  
Andrew Cheung ◽  
Kristien Mortelmans
Keyword(s):  
Operating Room ◽  
Operating Room Personnel

Preoperative Localization of Spinal and Peripheral Pathologies for Surgery by Computed Tomography–Guided Placement of a Specialized Needle System

Neurosurgery ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 784-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Slotty ◽  
Patrick Kröpil ◽  
Mark Klingenhöfer ◽  
Hans-Jakob Steiger ◽  
Daniel Hänggi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Peripheral Nerve ◽  
Radiation Exposure ◽  
Operating Room ◽  
Operating Room Personnel ◽  
Peripheral Nerve Surgery ◽  
Preoperative Marking ◽  
Intraoperative Fluoroscopy ◽  
Nerve Surgery ◽  
Intraoperative Localization

Abstract OBJECTIVE Exact intraoperative localization of pathologies in spinal and peripheral nerve surgery is not easily achieved. In spinal surgery, intraoperative fluoroscopy is the common method for identification of the level affected. It seldom visualizes the pathology itself and is prone to error in identifying anatomic disorders and superimposing structures. In peripheral nerve surgery, intraoperative fluoroscopy is of little value. The present technical study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using a preoperative computed tomography–guided needle marking system, which was previously developed for use in gynecology. The goal was to reduce intraoperative localization error and radiation exposure to patients and operating room personnel. METHODS We used a flexible hooked-wire needle marking system, which has previously been used for preoperative marking of breast lesions, to localize and tag spinal and peripheral nerve pathologies. Marking was carried out under computed tomographic control before surgery. Seven illustrative cases were chosen for this report: 6 patients with disorders of the spine and 1 patient with a peripheral nerve schwannoma. RESULTS No adverse reactions, aside from minor discomfort, were observed in this study. In all cases, the needle could be used as a reliable guide for the surgical approach and led directly to the pathology. In no case was additional intraoperative fluoroscopy needed. The level of radiation exposure to the patient as a result of computed tomography–based marking was similar to or less than that encountered in conventional intraoperative x-ray localization. Radiation exposure to the operating room personnel was eliminated by this method. CONCLUSION Preoperative marking of spinal level or peripheral nerve pathologies with a flexible hooked-wire needle marking system is feasible and appears to be safe and useful for neurosurgical spinal and peripheral procedures.

scholarly journals Early, Subclinical Hematological Changes Associated with Occupational Exposure to High Levels of Nitrous Oxide

Toxics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Amiri ◽  
Masoud Neghab ◽  
Fatemeh Shouroki ◽  
Saeed Yousefinejad ◽  
Jafar Hassanzadeh
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Occupational Exposure ◽  
Operating Room ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin ◽  
Corpuscular Hemoglobin ◽  
Operating Room Personnel ◽  
Historical Cohort ◽  
Inhalation Anesthetics ◽  
Hematological Changes

This study was undertaken to determine whether exposure of operating room personnel to inhalation anesthetics, nitrous oxide, isoflurane, and sevoflurane was associated with any hematological changes. This historical cohort study was performed in 2018 at a large public hospital in Shiraz, where 52 operating room personnel and 52 administrative staff were investigated. The blood sample was taken from all individuals for Complete Blood Count. Furthermore, demographic information was collected through questionnaires. Mean atmospheric concentrations of nitrous oxide, isoflurane, and sevoflurane, to which subjects were exposed, were 850.92, 2.40, and 0.18 ppm, respectively. The hematological parameters were within the normal range in both groups. However, the mean values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and red blood cell count in the exposed group were significantly lower than the control group. No significant differences were noted between the two groups as far as other hematological factors were concerned. These findings provide circumstantial evidence to further substantiate the notion that occupational exposure to inhalation anesthetics, under the exposure scenario explained in this study, is associated with subtle, subclinical, prepathologic hematological changes. Long-term consequence and ramifications of these effects require further investigation. The range of exposure levels to anesthetic gases in operating rooms.

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