Comparison of the effects of surgical smoke on the air quality and on the physical symptoms of operating room staff

XV+ 85 Surgical smoke contains cellular materials including gaseous bioaerosols, viruses and bacteria, as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) from carcinogenic chemicals. The aim of this study is; to determine the effect of surgical smoke containing toxic chemicals on indoor air quality and to examine the physical symptoms of employees in the operating room. This study is a case-control type study. It was carried out in Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Izzet Baysal Training and Research Hospital. In the study, 45 air samples were taken from the general surgery operating room with active sampling method before, during and after surgery. Physical complaints of 19 people working in the general surgery operating room were asked and throat cultures were taken before and after surgery. These results were compared with those working in internal units. Data were analyzed using a statistics program. Number, percentage, t test, kruskal wallis tests and corelation were used to analyze the data. For all results p<0.05 value were approved as statistically significant. The average concentration of total VOCs in the air samples taken was 302,12 μg.m-3 and ıt was found as 163,5;500,1 and 242,6 μg.m-3, before, during and after surgery, respectively. It was observed that the total VOC value at the time of surgery was significantly higher than the values measured before and after surgery (p≤0,05). Average concentrations in the operating room were measured as benzene 5,07, toluene 110,83, ethylbenzene 23,53, m, p-xylene 44,16 and o-xylene 29,96 μg.m-3. Benzene concentrations remained constantly high (p≥0.05) in preoperative, intraoperative and post-operative measurements, exceeding the limit values. It was observed that other VOCs were significantly higher during surgery and remained below the limit values (p≤0,05). When compared in terms of open and laparoscopic surgery, there was no difference between VOC (toluene, ethylbenzene, m, p-xylene, o-xylene) concentrations (p≥0,05). The correlation value between the operation time and the mean total VOC values was r = -0,087, and no significant correlation was found between them (p≥0,05). It was found that the physical symptoms of the surgical team increased during the operation, and they experienced more complaints of tearing, burning in the eyes, hair odor, nausea, and cough than those working in the internal units (p≤0,05). When the throat culture results are examined;there was no significant difference in samples taken from the surgical team before and after surgery. Similarly, there was no difference between the operating room team and the healthcare professionals in the internal units. As a result of this study, surgical smoke was found to be the important contaminant that adversely affects indoor air quality in the operating room. It was observed that some carcinogenic chemicals were high in the indoor air in the operating rooms, and this was not related to open /closed surgeries and the duration of the operation. It was determined that the knowledge and precautions of the operating room staff about surgical smoke were not sufficient.It was observed that physical complaints of operating room staff increased during surgery due to the effect of surgical smoke. It was determined that these complaints were more common than those working in internal units.