Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

High-quality filtration allows reuse of anesthesia breathing circuits resulting in cost savings and reduced medical waste

1999; Elsevier BV; Volume: 11; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0952-8180(99)00083-5

1873-4529

Ralph Daggan, Andreas Zefeiridis, Dean Steinberg, Ghassem E. Larijani, Irwin Gratz, Michael E. Goldberg,

Anesthesia and Sedative Agents

Study Objectives: To determine if the new Filta-Therm® filter prevents contamination and allows the reuse of breathing circuit with considerable cost and environmental savings. Design: Prospective study. Patients: 52 ASA physical status I, II, III, and IV patients, aged 18 to 75 years. Interventions: Each morning a new breathing circuit was assembled. The Filta-Therm® filter (Intersurgical, Inc., Liverpool, NY) elbow, and mask, but not the circuit, were changed between patients. The filter was placed between the Y-piece and the elbow of the breathing circuit. Prior to anesthesia, samples were obtained at the Y-piece, and the inspiratory and expiratory ports of breathing circuit. Following anesthesia, samples were obtained at the Murphy eye of endotrachael tube, and at the Y-piece. The samples were incubated, and the results examined at 24 and 48 hours. Measurements and Main Results: Prior to anesthesia, cultures of the Y-piece and the inspired and expired ports samples showed no growth. Following anesthesia, all 52 samples obtained at the endotracheal tube were contaminated with various organisms, while all 52 Y-piece samples showed negative growth. Conclusions: The single use of Filta-Therm® filter prevents bacterial contamination and allows reuse of breathing circuit at least twice, resulting in significant cost savings ($50,778 per year). Further studies are needed to establish the safety of reusing breathing circuits when appropriate bacterial filters are used.