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Noise levels in modern operating rooms during surgery
Steven H Ginsberg1, Enrique Pantin, Jonathan Kraidin
1Department of Anesthesia, UMDNJ/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. ginz1@optonline.net
Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia
|October 31, 2012
Summary
Noise levels in the cardiac operating room are significantly higher during critical anesthesia periods like induction and emergence compared to baseline. These elevated sound levels may be manageable by healthcare providers.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Operating Room Management
- Healthcare Acoustics
Background:
- Operating room (OR) noise levels can impact patient safety and staff communication.
- Specific OR periods, particularly those involving anesthesia, may have distinct acoustic profiles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare noise level variations in the cardiac OR at critical time points during surgical procedures.
- To identify specific phases of cardiac surgery with elevated noise levels.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, non-randomized study was conducted in a university hospital's cardiac OR.
- Noise levels were monitored in 23 cardiac surgical patients during various phases: room setup, induction, skin incision, 60 minutes post-incision, termination of extracorporeal circulation, emergence (drapes down), and transport.
Main Results:
- Noise levels were significantly higher during induction, termination of extracorporeal circulation, emergence (drapes down), and transport compared to baseline measurements (room setup, skin incision, 60 minutes post-incision).
Conclusions:
- Cardiac ORs experience louder noise levels during critical anesthesia phases (induction, emergence) than during other surgical periods.
- The identified high noise levels during anesthesia-critical times, not solely attributable to surgical tools, suggest potential for intervention by healthcare providers to mitigate noise.
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