INFLUENCE OF METHODS OF ANESTHESIA ON AIR -POLLUTION FROM ENFLURANE IN NON-AIR-CONDITIONED OPERATING-THEATERS

Pollution of work areas by volatile anaesthetics and nitrous oxide occ urs during general anaesthesia. Short anaesthesia procedures are often carried out in operating theatres that are not equipped with air-cond itioning systems. Methods of lovering exposure during short procedures , where mask anaesthesia is the usual procedure, are double masks and the laryngeal mask. The aim of our investigation was to determine the possibility of lowering the pollution of the environment to below nati onal and international thresholds in a non-air-conditioned work area a nd to find out which method of anaesthesia is the most effective in en vironmental protection, i.e. which has the lowest leakage rate. Method s. In our investigation, at two points of the work area the mean enflu rane chloro-1-(difluoromethoxy)-1,1,2-trifluoro-ethane] concentrations were measured under daily routine conditions in a non-ventilated anae sthesiological work area by gas chromatography. Anaesthesia with singl e masks, double masks, laryngeal masks or endotracheal intubation was carried out. Results. No differences were found in the mean concentrat ion of enflurane during the anaesthesia procedures. The leakage rates of endotracheal intubation anaesthesia were the lowest. Discussion. In unventilated work areas, it was not possible to lower the exposure of the personnel by changing the method of anaesthesia. The application of procedures like double or laryngeal masks does not avoid the need f or installation of air-conditioning systems in all work areas were ana esthesia is performed.