Noise in Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery Operating Rooms

Background Noise in the operating room (OR) contributes to miscommunication among team members and may negatively impact patient outcomes. Objectives This study aimed to quantify noise levels during endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery. The secondary aim was to understand how OR team members perceive noise during endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery. Methods Noise levels were measured using the validated phone application SoundMeter X 10.0.4 (r1865) (Faber Acoustical, Utah, USA) at the ear-level of the surgeon, scrub nurse, circulating nurse, and anesthesiologist. At the end of each surgery, OR team members were asked to complete a six-question questionnaire about noise during that surgery. Results One thousand four hundred and two noise measurements were recorded across 353 trials. The loudest mean noise measurement was 84.51 dB and maximum noise measurement was 96.21 dB at the ear-level of the surgeon. Noise was significantly higher at the ear-level of the surgeon and scrub nurse in comparison to the circulating nurse (p = .000) and anesthesiologist (p = .000). Forty percent of questionnaire respondents believed noise was a problem and 38% stated that noise caused communication issues during surgery. Conclusion Surgeons and scrub nurses have significantly higher noise exposure in comparison to circulating nurses and anesthesiologists during endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery. For these members of the OR team, noise is also identified as problematic and causing issues with communication. Mechanisms to reduce potential noise may be implemented to improve communication and patient outcomes in endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery.

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Case Study in a Working Environment Highlighting the Divergence between Sound Level and Workers’ Perception towards Noise

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17176122 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (17) ◽

pp. 6122

Author(s):

Chun-Yip Hon ◽

Illia Tchernikov ◽

Craig Fairclough ◽

Alberto Behar

Keyword(s):

Noise Exposure ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Sound Level ◽

Working Environment ◽

Noise Levels ◽

Hearing Conservation ◽

Attitudes And Perceptions ◽

Noise Measurements ◽

Survey Responses ◽

Excessive Noise

Excessive noise levels are a prevalent issue in food processing operations and, although there have been numerous studies on occupational noise, no single study has used a concurrent mixed-methods approach. Employing this study design allows for an understanding of the level of convergence (similarity) between measured noise levels and workers’ attitudes and perceptions towards noise. This, in turn, allows for the identification of potential challenges with respect to the implementation of hearing conservation efforts. In this study, spot noise measurements were collected using a sound level meter. One-on-one interviews were conducted with workers to determine attitudes and perceptions towards noise in their workplaces. Subsequently, the results of the noise measurements (quantitative data) were integrated with the survey responses (qualitative data) to identify convergence. The majority of the noise measurements were found to exceed 85 dBA—the criterion mandated by the local occupational health and safety legislation. Although all study participants felt that it was noisy in the workplace, a large proportion of respondents indicated that the noise was not bothersome. With workers’ perception being contradictory to the measured noise levels, it is a challenge to implement hearing conservation measures unless changes are made to raise the awareness of the risks associated with excessive noise exposure.

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Ambient Noise Levels and Wireless Headsets for Communication in Aerosolizing Otolaryngology Surgery During COVID-19

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1177/0194599820986584 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 019459982098658

Author(s):

Marc Levin ◽

Kelvin Zhou ◽

Ethan C. Sommer ◽

Tobial McHugh ◽

Doron D. Sommer

Keyword(s):

Ambient Noise ◽

Scientific Communication ◽

Operating Rooms ◽

Surgical Team ◽

Noise Levels ◽

Conference Call ◽

Team Members ◽

Communication Problems ◽

Noise Measurements ◽

Survey Responses

The objective of this short scientific communication is to describe and test a strategy to overcome communication barriers in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era otolaryngology operating rooms. Thirteen endoscopic sinus surgeries, 4 skull base surgeries, and 1 tracheotomy were performed with powered air-purifying respirators. During these surgeries, surgical team members donned headsets with microphones linked via conference call. Noise measurements and survey responses were obtained and compared to pre–COVID-19 data. Noise was problematic and caused miscommunication as per 93% and 76% of respondents, respectively. Noise in COVID-19 era operating rooms was significantly higher compared to pre–COVID-19 era data (73.8 vs 70.2 decibels, P = .04). Implementation of this headset strategy significantly improved communication. Respondents with headsets were less likely to encounter communication problems (31% vs 93%, P < .001). Intraoperative measures to protect surgical team members during aerosolizing surgeries may impair communication. Linking team members via a conference call is a solution to improve communication.

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Patterns and trends in OSHA occupational noise exposure measurements from 1979 to 2013

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oemed-2018-105041 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 76 (2) ◽

pp. 118-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Stephanie K Sayler ◽

Benjamin J Roberts ◽

Michael A Manning ◽

Kan Sun ◽

Richard L Neitzel

Keyword(s):

Manufacturing Industry ◽

Occupational Safety ◽

Noise Exposure ◽

Oil And Gas ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Occupational Noise ◽

Health Administration ◽

Noise Levels ◽

Noise Measurements ◽

Over Time

ObjectivesNoise is one of the most common exposures, and occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is highly prevalent. In addition to NIHL, noise is linked to numerous non-auditory health effects. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) maintains the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) database of compliance-related measurements performed in various industries across the USA. The goal of the current study was to describe and analyse personal noise measurements available through the OSHA IMIS, identifying industries with elevated personal noise levels or increasing trends in worker exposure over time.MethodsThrough a Freedom of Information Act request, we obtained OSHA’s noise measurements collected and stored in IMIS between 1979 and 2013 and analysed permissible exposure limit (PEL) and action level (AL) criteria measurements by two-digit industry code.ResultsThe manufacturing industry represented 87.8% of the 93 920 PEL measurements and 84.6% of the 58 073 AL measurements. The highest mean noise levels were found among the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry for PEL (93.1 dBA) and the mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction group for AL (93.3 dBA). Overall, measurements generally showed a decreasing trend in noise levels and exceedances of AL and PEL by year, although this was not true for all industries.ConclusionsOur results suggest that, despite reductions in noise over time, further noise control interventions are warranted both inside and outside of the manufacturing industry. Further reductions in occupational noise exposures across many industries are necessary to continue to reduce the risk of occupational NIHL.

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What Makes a Successful Hearing Conservation Program?

AAOHN Journal ◽

10.1177/216507990905700806 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 57 (8) ◽

pp. 321-337 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Bonnie Rogers ◽

Denai Meyer ◽

Carol Summey ◽

Dawn Scheessele ◽

Terry Atwell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Noise Exposure ◽

Weighted Average ◽

Interdisciplinary Team ◽

The United States ◽

Noise Levels ◽

Hearing Conservation ◽

Team Members ◽

Conservation Program ◽

Work Related ◽

Time Weighted Average

Although preventable, hearing impairment is one of the most prevalent disabilities in Western societies. In the United States, approximately 30 million individuals are at risk for noise-induced hearing loss and 22 million individuals between the ages of 20 and 69 have permanently damaged their hearing by exposure to loud sounds or noise in their environment. Both work-related and recreational noise exposure affect an individual's hearing. Legislation in 1969 and later in 1983 established standards mandating that all workers exposed to noise levels at or greater than 85 dBA time-weighted average be placed in a hearing conservation program that includes provision of hearing protective devices. This article discusses components of an effective hearing conservation program, and the roles and functions of interdisciplinary team members in making a hearing conservation program successful.

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Damage Risk: An Evaluation of the Effects of Exposure to 85 versus 90 dBA of Noise

Journal of Speech and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/jshr.1902.216 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 216-224 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

James T. Yates ◽

Jerry D. Ramsey ◽

Jay W. Holland

Keyword(s):

White Noise ◽

Statistical Difference ◽

Noise Exposure ◽

Threshold Shift ◽

Temporary Threshold Shift ◽

Noise Levels ◽

Potential Damage ◽

Full Day ◽

Damage Risk

The purpose of this study was to compare the damage risk of 85 and 90 dBA of white noise for equivalent full-day exposures. The damage risk of the two noise levels was determined by comparing the temporary threshold shift (TTS) of 12 subjects exposed to either 85 or 90 dBA of white noise for equivalent half- and full-day exposures. TTS was determined by comparing the pre- and postexposure binaural audiograms of each subject at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz. It was concluded that the potential damage risk, that is, hazardous effect, of 90 dBA is greater than 85 dBA of noise for equivalent full-day exposures. The statistical difference between the overall effects of equivalent exposures to 85 dBA as compared to 90 dBA of noise could not be traced to any one frequency. The damage risk of a full-day exposure to 85 dBA is equivalent to that of a half-day exposure to 90 dBA of noise. Within the limits of this study, TTS t was as effective as TTS 2 for estimating the damage risk of noise exposure.

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