RESUMO
A survey of veterinarians was conducted in an 11-county region of eastern Colorado to determine the extent of usage of inhalation anesthetics and to measure exposures of veterinarians and their assistants to waste anesthetic gases. The survey indicated that inhalation anesthetics were used in 80.8% of the 210 practices. Exposures to waste anesthetics in veterinary practices were far less than reported in human hospitals. Waste anesthetic concentrations were affected by size of the patient, type of breathing system, and use of scavenging systems. Dilution ventilation had no effect on breathing zone concentrations. The endotracheal tube and occasionally the anesthetic machine were the major sources of leakage of anesthetic gases.
Assuntos
Poluentes Ocupacionais do Ar/análise , Poluentes Atmosféricos/análise , Pessoal Técnico de Saúde , Anestesia por Inalação/veterinária , Anestésicos/análise , Medicina Veterinária , Anestesia por Inalação/instrumentação , Animais , Exposição Ambiental , Halotano/análise , Humanos , Metoxiflurano/análise , Óxido Nitroso/análise , Fatores de Tempo , Recursos HumanosRESUMO
A survey of veterinary hospitals and clinics was conducted to determine the extent of usage of inhalation anesthetics and measure exposures of veterinarians and their assistants to waste anesthetic gases and vapors. A questionnaire survey indicated 80.8 percent of practices in the study area used inhalation of anesthetics, with a wide range noted between types of practices. Exposures to waste anesthetics were less in veterinary hospitals than reported in human hospitals. Mean methoxyflurane concentrations were 1.9 ppm and 1.7 ppm in breathing zones of small animal veterinarians and animal technicians, respectively. Waste methoxyflurane concentrations were significantly affected by size of patient, type of breathing system, and use of scavenging systems. Dilution ventilation had no significant effect on breathing zone concentrations of waste methoxyflurane.