Noise Levels in the Operating Room

Abstract

Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. Monitoring during anesthesia improves patient outcome by increasing the anesthesia providers awareness of actual and potential problems. Lack of vigilance has been reported to be responsible for up to 30% of major problems occurring during anesthesia. Excessive noise in the environment is a factor that may decrease provider vigilance, and the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation has recently identified noise in the operating room (OR) as a major area of concern. In this study the level of noise in one OR was measured and correlations between noise levels and anesthesia providers ability to hear critical patient monitors are described. The four-week study took place in an orthopedic OR of a 90-bed military hospital in the midwest. Noise was measured continuously from the initial set up of the room to the completion of the last procedure of the day. Episodes in which the audible pulse oximeter monitor tone (set at 50% volume) was difficult to hear or could not be heard at all due to the high levels of noise were documented. Noise levels ranged from a minimum of 46.8db(A) to a maximum of 95.0db(A). Average levels of noise (Leq) ranged from 60.1 to 69.4db(A). Baseline monitor tones and alarms ranged from 55-75db(A). NIOSH standards recommend the decibel level not exceed 85db(A) for an eight-hour work period or 91db(A) for more than two hours. Basic levels of noise measured in the OR did not exceed NIOSH standards. Determinations regarding the ability of noise levels to cause difficulty in hearing monitor tones and alarms were inconclusive. The role noise may play on decreasing anesthetist vigilance is still undetermined. Further study that focuses on actual noise levels and anesthetist task performance is needed. vi COPYRIGHT STATEMENTThe authors hereby certify that the use of any copyrighted material in the thesis entitled:"NOISE LEVELS IN THE OPERATING ROOM" beyond brief excerpts is with the permission of the copyright owner, and will save and hold harmless the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences from any damage which may arise from such copyright violations.vii ABSTRACTMonitoring during anesthesia improves patient outcome by increasing the anesthesia provider's awareness of actual and pote...

Exposição ocupacional a poluição sonora em anestesiologia

“…The lack of supervision accounted for 30% of reported serious problems occurring during anesthesia 36 .…”