POLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIA

DR.FATMA ALDAMMASDR.FATMA ALDAMMAS

POLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIAPOLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIA

DEFINATION

?polluants

?contaminants

POLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIAPOLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIA

DEFINATION

substances present in ambient atmosphere in sufficient concentration to damage health are called polluants.

POLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIAPOLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIA

DEFINATION

substances present in ambient atmosphere in in harmless concentration they are called contaminants.

POLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIAPOLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIA

DEFINATION

But it is difficult to differentiate between harmful pollution and harmless contamination.

A contaminant becomes a polluant at higher concentration.

POLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIAPOLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIA

Sources

• Inhalation anaestheties are the main source of pollution of the atmosphere of the operating theatre.

(Experience in man as well as animal experiments have provided some evidence of the potential hazards of prolonged exposure to low concentrations of inhalation anaesthetics).

POLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIAPOLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIA

Modern technology has allowed the detection and measurement of these very small concentrations.

POLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIAPOLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIA

• The levles of contamination in theatre atmosphere taken as 10ppm for halothane and 100 for N20 (about 1/1000 of MAC value).

• These concentrations seem insignificant when compared to these administered to patients without detectable sequelae because patients are exposed only occasionally but anaesthetists are exposed throughout most of their professional life.

POLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIAPOLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIA

POLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIAPOLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIA

Contributing factors include:

1. long hours of exposures,2. high anaesthetic concentrations3. poor ventilation 4. defective equipment.

POLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIAPOLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIA

EXPOSURE HAZARDS:

1. Headache, fatigue, somnolence impairment of professional performance are the most common symptoms.

2.malignancy of lymphoid and reticulo—endothelial tissue, neuropathy, nephropathy, and hepatitis.

3.spontaneous abortions, premature birth, congenital abnormalities and infertility

POLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIAPOLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIA

Evidence incriminating inhalation anaesthetics include:

1.N2O produces leucopenia on prolonged administration.

2. Animal experiments suggest that inhalation anaesthetics are teratogenic affecting rapidly developing cells.

3. Most of inhalation anaesthetics are metabolized in the body and some metabolites are toxic.

4. Most of the anaesthetics produce enzyme induction.5. Most of the anaesthetics have immunosuppressive

effects.

ANTI POLLUTION MEASURES

DR.FATMA ALDAMMASDR.FATMA ALDAMMAS

ANTI -POLLUTION MEASURES ANTI -POLLUTION MEASURES

Prevention: (anti—pollution measures)

A. Control of anaesthetic usage

B. Removal of anaesthetic waste

POLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIAPOLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIA

Prevention: (anti—pollution measures)

A. Control of anaesthetic usage: by

1. Reduction of fresh gas flow

2. Closed circuits

3. Ecomony in the use of inhalation anaesthetics.

POLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIAPOLLUTION AND ANAESTHESIA

Prevention: (anti—pollution measures)

B. Removal of anaesthetic waste: by

1. Air conditioning

2. Collection of waste gases by a special collector valve.

3. Disposal of waste gases via a wide—bore, low—resistance tube through scavenger.