Comparison of operating room air distribution systems using the environmental quality indicator method of dynamic simulated surgical procedures

Operating room air delivery design to protect patient and surgical site results in particles released at surgical table having greater concentration along walls of the room than at the instrument tray

“…In January 2018, mock surgical procedures were performed in 3 fully functional ORs regularly used. 14 Two of the ORs were constructed at the same time in 2017. One OR had a single large diffuser 10 system in the ceiling above the surgical table.…”

“…The 55 m 2 ORs were the same except for the configuration of air delivery. 14 Both rooms had positive pressure, 26 air changes per hour, and high-efficiency particulate air filtration using 4 low-wall return grilles. 14 The single large diffuser was constructed with 9 diffusers coincident to one another, 2.35 m by 2.95 m total dimension.…”

“… 14 Both rooms had positive pressure, 26 air changes per hour, and high-efficiency particulate air filtration using 4 low-wall return grilles. 14 The single large diffuser was constructed with 9 diffusers coincident to one another, 2.35 m by 2.95 m total dimension. 14 The multiple diffuser array design had 6 diffusers each 1.17 m by 0.575 m, separated by hard ceiling surfaces and ceiling-mounted equipment.…”

“… 14 The multiple diffuser array design had 6 diffusers each 1.17 m by 0.575 m, separated by hard ceiling surfaces and ceiling-mounted equipment. 14 …”

“… 11 , 12 , 13 However, the authors recognized that experimental data from 2018 could be reanalyzed to estimate relative concentrations of airborne particles between the surgical field and periphery of the operating room at air registers. 14 We hypothesized greater concentrations in the periphery than at their source at the OR table.…”