Protective Face Masks: Effect on the Oxygenation and Heart Rate Status of Oral Surgeons during Surgery

Abstract

Background: Safety in medical work requires eye protection, such as glasses, and protective facial masks (PFM) during clinical practice to prevent viral respiratory infections. The use of facial masks and other full personal protective equipment increases air flow resistance, facial skin temperature and physical discomfort. The aim of the present study was to measure surgeons’ oxygenation status and discomfort before and after their daily routine activities of oral interventions. Methods: 10 male voluntary dentists, specializing in oral surgery, and 10 male voluntary doctors in dentistry, participating in master’s courses in oral surgery in the Department of Oral Surgery of the University of Chieti, with mean age 29 ± 6 (27–35), were enrolled. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of wearing a PFM on oxygenation status while the oral surgeons were actively working. Disposable sterile one-way surgical paper masks (Surgical Face Mask, Euronda, Italy) and FFP2 (Surgical Face Mask, Euronda, Italy) were used and the mask position covering the nose did not vary during the procedures. The FFP2 was covered by a surgical mask during surgical treatment. A pulse oximeter was used to measure the blood oximetry saturation during the study. Results: In all 20 surgeons wearing FFP2 covered by surgical masks, a reduction in arterial O2 saturation from around 97.5% before surgery to 94% after surgery was recorded with increase of heart rates. A shortness of breath and light-headedness/headaches were also noted. Conclusions: In conclusion, wearing an FFP2 covered by a surgical mask induces a reduction in circulating O2 concentrations without clinical relevance, while an increase of heart frequency and a sensation of shortness of breath, light-headedness/headaches were recorded.

Mask-Related Glasses Fogging: A Predisposing Mechanism of Falls during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Multiple studies have investigated participants' heart rates, oxygen saturation, carbon dioxide levels, and symptoms while wearing masks. FFP2 masks covered with a surgical mask were found to be associated with increases in heart rate and nonclinically relevant drops in arterial oxygen saturation when evaluated over different wear time periods [ 16 ]. When compared to not wearing a mask, FFP2 masks were similarly found to result in significant, but not clinically relevant, increases in carbon dioxide partial pressure and decreases in oxygen saturation at different work levels [ 17 ].…”

“…When N95 and surgical masks were compared, N95 masks led to a larger increase in perioral surface temperature and higher reported sensations of humidity, heat, breathing difficulty, discomfort, and mask touching after one hour of wear [ 18 ]. Other reported symptoms included dizziness and headaches [ 16 – 18 ]. Assisting patients with mitigating the negative effects of mask wearing is necessary to ensure adequate protection from the COVID-19 virus.…”

Education Technology in Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

“…The COVID-19 mobility while remote working, e-learning, and online platforms started to grow, along with online leisure solutions, such as gaming and video streaming [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. The COVID-19 pandemic debuted in December 2019, and since then, changed the lives of every person around the world [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. During this pandemic, physical distancing measures were imposed, and consequently, the education field had to adapt and transition to online platforms because this type of learning allows participation from all over the world to a meeting, webinar, course, or class [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31].…”

The 15-Months Clinical Experience of SARS-CoV-2: A Literature Review of Therapies and Adjuvants

“…COVID-19 is an emerging acute respiratory infective pathology that primarily spreads through the airway's tract by droplets release, as well as respiratory and salivary secretions and direct and indirect contact. Its spread through aerosols (airborne transmission) is suspected to be another important route of transmission, but this is yet to be established [4][5][6]. Some subjects affected by SARS-CoV-2 vector present a viral RNA titer or live infectious virus present in feces, which suggests another possible route through a fecal-oral pathway [7].…”