Laminar Airflow and Temperature Controlled Airflow ventilation in operating rooms compared “At Rest”

Abstract

Surgical site infections (SSI) pose a major risk in modern medicine. To prevent such infections, ventilation systems are used in modern operating rooms (OR). Aim of this study was to compare two ventilation systems in terms of their effectiveness. The focus was on the particle load and distribution of ventilation to determine the effectiveness of ventilation in the operating room. Both ventilation systems were evaluated using two different measurement methods “at rest” based on particles. The first method involved an uncontrolled source with a supply of contaminants at several locations in the OR simultaneously. The second method used a controlled source with contamination in one location at a time. The results show that ventilation in the periphery with TcAF systems positively affects contamination reduction. Protection in the periphery is verifiable higher than that of the LAF system. The recovery time in an OR with an LAF system is almost doubled in the periphery. In conclusion TcAF systems reduce contamination more efficiently than an LAF system. This suggests an advantage for ventilation of the entire OR with a temperature-controlled airflow system (TcAF) rather than just the sterile field in order to create a safe surgical environment and minimize airborne contamination.