Air quality in hospital operating rooms

Indoor air quality in hospital operating rooms (ORs) is of great concern for patients and medical personnel, thus mandating the use of efficient HVAC systems and active gas scavenging systems in ORs. A wide range of relevant medical and engineering literature is summarized in this paper, highlighting relevant challenges, problems and solutions, along with recommended good practices. Indoor conditions in Hellenic ORs were monitored and data were used to assess the exposure of medical personnel to anaesthetic gases and other indoor chemical compounds. Accordingly, even when mechanical ventilation and scavenging systems were employed in some of the audited ORs, medical personnel are still exposed to poor indoor air quality. The average concentration of anaesthetic gases (isoflurane, sevoflurane) was 2362 μg/m³, exceeding the exposure limit in 18% of the audited ORs. The average concentration of disinfecting agents was 288 μg/m³ for formaldehyde and 207 μg/m³ for glutaraldehyde. Additional compounds were identified in the OR indoor air that represent 54% of the total volatile organic concentration.