Assessment of nasal mucociliary clearance in anesthetists

Abstract

IntroductionWaste anesthetic gases can escape into the air of operating theaters from various components of the anesthesia delivery system during the clinical administration of inhaled anesthetics. In spite of advanced scavenging systems, the amount of waste gases in operating theaters depends on multiple factors, such as the type of anesthesia equipment (closed/open system), the anesthesia techniques (high/low flow rate, use of face masks or laryngeal mask airways, use of uncuffed tracheal tubes), and the methods of anesthetic induction (1-3). Recently, there have been important improvements in taking control of anesthetic gas pollution in health care facilities. Nonetheless, occupational exposure to waste anesthetic gases still occurs (1-3). To date, several studies have investigated the risk of exposure to anesthetic agents. These studies have assessed hematopoiesis, the central nervous system, and behavioral effects, and the effects of anesthetic agents on fertility, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, and reproduction (1,4-7).Background/aim: To assess mucociliary clearance in anesthetists who were exposed to waste anesthetic gases occupationally. Materials and methods:The first group consisted of 30 anesthetists who had been working at least 2 years. The control group of 30 subjects was selected from hospital staff with no history of occupational exposure to waste anesthetic gases. Mucociliary clearance time was assessed by measuring the saccharine nasal transit time (SNTT).Results: Thirty-six women and 24 men aged between 25 and 60 years were enrolled in the study. There were no differences between the anesthetist and control groups in terms of age, sex, height, or weight. The median SNTT for the anesthetists (10 min) was longer than that for the control group (8.3 min). The difference was significant (P = 0.025). In addition, there was a significant correlation between the SNTT and the working time (P = 0.02). Furthermore, anesthetists who had worked for 4 years or more had prolonged SNTT compared to those who had worked less than 4 years (P < 0.001). Conclusion:The present study demonstrated the impairment of mucociliary clearance in anesthetists. Increasing impairment with increasing working time was also detected.