WASTE-GAS EXPOSURE DURING DESFLURANE AND ISOFLURANE ANESTHESIA

Background: Currently, there are no data available concerning the occu pational exposure to desflurane during general anaesthesia. This prosp ective, randomized study reports on occupational exposure to desfluran e, compared to isoflurane, in a modern operation theatre (OT). Methods : The study was performed in an OT equipped with a modern air-conditio ning System and with a low-leakage anaesthesia machine connected to a central scavenging system. Trace concentrations of the anaesthetics we re measured con tinuously by means of a photoacoustic infrared spectro meter during general anaesthesia in 30 patients undergoing eye surgery . Values were obtained within the breathing zone of the anaesthetist, the surgeon, the auxiliary nurse and at the mouth of the patient. Resu lts: Desflurane and isoflurane were administered with median (range) e ndtidal concentrations of 4.7 (3.8-10.3) vol% and 0.9 (0.6-1.4) vol%, respectively. The personnel-related median values of the average trace concentrations of desflurane and isoflurane were 0.5 (0.01-7.5) ppm a nd 0.2 (0.01-1.6) ppm, respectively. Conclusions: Occupational exposur e to desflurane is low in the environment of a modern OT, even though it has to be administered in approximately 5-fold higher concentration s compared to isoflurane.