Hazardous Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU): Reality or Myth? A Case Study

Abstract

Research has linked various health problems with chronic exposure to anesthetic waste gases. Few studies have explored anesthetic waste gases in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Newer halogenated anesthetic agents such as Sevoflurane and Desfiurane have expedient recoveries and theoretically, limit exposure time to waste anesthetic gases in PACU. Exposure of recovery room nurses to Sevoflurane was measured in this descriptive study. Sequential air samples from PACU nurse's breathing space were taken while they administered routine post operative care. The sample included two PACU nurses working day shifts who were assigned to patients only anesthetized with Sevoflurane.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 03, 2000
Accession Number
ADA372265

Entities

People

  • Marilee L. Edwards

Organizations

  • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anesthesia
  • Anesthesia And Analgesia
  • Anesthetics
  • Body Weight
  • Bone Marrow
  • Case Studies
  • Cognition
  • Control Systems
  • Deoxyribonucleic Acids
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Health Services
  • Liver Diseases
  • Medical Personnel
  • Motor Skills
  • Occupational Safety And Health
  • Pregnancy Complications

Readers

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Environmental Engineering.
  • Medical or Health Care Field.

Technology Areas

  • Space