[Operating room ethrane pollution (author's transl)].

Abstract

Several surveys of ethrane pollution were made by the authors in operating rooms, either equipped or not with general ventilation systems, during operations where non-rebreathing anaesthesia devices were used. In operating rooms without general ventilation systems, but with simple air conditioning systems, ethrane pollution was found to be rather high and to attain 30-40 ppm at the fourth hour of operation. No statistically significant differences were elicited among levels found at the anaesthetist, surgeon and assistance personnel sites. The authors analyze the kinetics of ethrane pollution as a function of its consumption and of time and discuss the most suitable means for decreasig and preventing such pollution.