Can You Hear Me Now? Quantifying Noise Pollution in the Operating Room
Anne E. Glenney*1, Sayna Matinrazm2, Zhazira Irgebay1, Michael Hu1, Sumaarg Pandya2, Young Jun2, Carolyn De La Cruz1
1Plastic Surgery, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA; 2University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
Noise is widely established as a stressor and should be limited in the OR when possible. OR noise levels have occasionally been described in the literature; however, studies quantifying the degree of noise pollution are limited. The purpose of our study was to quantify the level of noise in the OR and to measure the amount of time OR personnel are exposed to damaging noise levels.
Noise was recorded at three locations in the OR: anesthesia (A), the circulating nurse's station (N), and the surgeon (S). PCE 322-A sound level meters were used to record decibel (dB) levels each second (s). Variables collected included surgical procedure, number of people scrubbed in, presence of music, and instruments used. Maximum, minimum, and mean decibel levels, as well as time above specific thresholds (60dB, 70dB, 80dB), were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS statistical software (version 27, SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL).
Data was collected for 25 operations conducted across Breast and Craniofacial Plastic Surgery services. Average noise level across ORs was 63.34± 3.61 and noise levels were similar between locations (A= 62.23± 3.74, N= 63.78± 3.46, S= 63.99± 3.62, p=0.379). Craniofacial cases were significantly louder: Breast cases averaged 62.56± 3.56dB compared to 65.07± 3.20dB for craniofacial cases (p =0.036). During breast cases, 64.4% of the time, noise levels exceeded 60dB (average of 7492± 5111s). 7.8% of the time (average 920 ± 1256s), noise levels exceeded 70dB, and noise exposure exceeded 80dB for an average of 21s per case. During craniofacial cases, 88.7% of case duration had a volume over 60dB (average 15011± 9568s), and 11% of the duration of these cases had recorded decibel levels over 70 (2099± 3210s). Significantly more time was spent over 70dB in craniofacial cases (p = 0.021).
Average OR noise levels exceed recommended exposure levels outlined by the WHO. Due to the importance of minimizing stressors in the operating room, it is critical to be aware of this issue and to work towards improving OR conditions.
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