Skip to main content
Download PDF

Detrimental effects of noise on anaesthetists

Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia volume 42, Article number: 608 (1995) Cite this article

Abstract

To study the detrimental effects of operating room noise, noise levels in operating rooms were first measured and the average noise level was calculated in Decibels, which was 77.32 dB(A). An audiocassette of 90 min duration was prepared recording the operating room noise. The same audiocassette was used later to expose the 20 anaesthesia residents to the operating room noise in the acoustically treated rooms of audiology department. The noise level during exposure was maintained at 77.32 dB(A). Two cognitive functions, mental efficiency and short-term memory were studied. The tests used were the Trail Making Test and Digit Symbol Test for mental efficiency and the Benton Visual Retention Test for short-term memory. The mean pre-exposure scores for the Trail Making Test, Digit Symbol Test and Benton Visual Retention Test were 22.9± 1.94, 83± 2.62 and 9.55± 0.51 respectively. The mean during-exposure scores were 16.35± 1.39, 74.05± 3.46 and 5.8± 0.41 respectively (P < 0.05). In conclusion, we observed that operating room noise reduced the mental efficiency and short-term memory of anaesthesia residents.

Résumé

Pour étudier en salle d’opération ses effets nocifs, le niveau du bruit a été établi à une valeur moyenne de 77,32 dB(A) calculée en décibels. Les bruits de la salle d’opération ont ensuite été enregistré apendant 90 min sur audiocassette. Grâce à celle-ci, on a pu exposer 20 résidents en anesthésie aux bruits de la salle d’opération dans la salle acoustique du département d’audiologie. Pendant cette expérience, le niveau de bruit a été maintenu à 77,32 dB(A). Deux fonctions cognitives, l’efficience mentale et la mémoire à court terme ont été étudiées. L’efficience mentale a été évaluée avec le test du tracé à la main et le test des symboles numériques, et la mémoire à court terme, avec le test de rétention visuelle de Benton. Avant l’exposition au bruit, les scores moyens pour le test du tracé, pour le test des symboles numériques et pour le test de rétention visuelle de Benton étaient respectivement de 22,9± 1,94, de 83± 2,62, et de 9,55± 0,51. Durant l’exposition au bruit, la moyenne des scores se situait à 16,35± 1,39, à 74,05± 3,46 et à 5,80± 0,41 respectivement (P < 0,05). En conclusion, nous avons observé que le bruit de la salle d’opération diminuait l’efficience mentale et la mémoire à court terme des résidents en anesthésie.

References

  1. Harris CM. Introduction.In: Harris CM (Ed.). Handbook of Noise Control, 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1979; 1: 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Park JE. Environment and health.In: Park JE, Park K (Eds.). Text Book of Preventive and Social Medicine, 12th ed. Jabalpur: M/S Banarsidas Bhanot Publishers, 1989: 378–9.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Molino JA. Annoyance and noise.In: Harris CM (Ed.). Handbook of Noise Control, 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1979: 16.1–16.9.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Broadbent D. Human performance and noise.In: Harris CM (Ed.). Handbook of Noise Control, 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1979: 15.1–15.23.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Hockey GRJ. Effects of noise on human work efficiency.In: May D (Ed.). Handbook of Noise Assessment. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1978: 335–72.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Poulton E. A new look at the effects of noise: a rejoinder. Psychol Bull 1978; 85: 1068–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Eschenbrenner AJ Jr. Effects of intermittent noise on the performance of a complex psychomotor task. Hum Factors 1971; 13: 59–63.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Shapiro RA, Berland T. Noise in the operating room. N Engl J Med 1972; 287: 1236–8.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hodge B, Thompson JF. Noise pollution in the operating theatre. Lancet 1990; 335: 891–4.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Reitan RM. Validity of the trail making test as an indication of organic brain damage. Percept Mot Skills 1958; 8: 271–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Wechsler D. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. New York: The Psychological Corporation, 1955.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Benton AL. The Revised Visual Retention Test, 3rd ed. New York: The Psychological Corporation, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Davies JM, Ewen A, Cuppage A, Gilbert D, Winkelaar R. Noise levels in the operating room — a comparison of Canada and England. Anaesth Intensive Care 1989; 17: 98–9.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Weston HC, Adams S. Part III, Report 65, Industrial Health Research Board, London. HM Stationary Office, 1932.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Wolf RH, Weiner FF. Effects of four noise conditions on arithmetic performance. Percept Mot Skills 1972; 35: 928–30.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Corhan CM, Gounand BR. Types of music, schedules of background stimulation, and visual vigilance performance. Percept Mot Skills 1976; 42: 662.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Fontaine DW, Schwalm ND. Effects of familiarity of music on vigilant performance. Percept Mot Skills 1979; 49: 71–4.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Weinger MB, Englund CE. Ergonomic and human factors affecting anesthetic vigilance and monitoring performance in operating room environment. Anesthesiology 1990; 73: 995–1021.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Anaesthesia, PGIMER, 160 012, Chandigarh, India

    V. S. S. N. Murthy, S. K. Malhotra, I. Bala & M. Raghunathan

  2. Departments of Otolaryngology, PGIMER, 160 012, Chandigarh, India

    M. Raghunathan

Authors
  1. V. S. S. N. Murthy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. K. Malhotra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. I. Bala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Raghunathan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Murthy, V.S.S.N., Malhotra, S.K., Bala, I. et al. Detrimental effects of noise on anaesthetists. Can J Anaesth 42, 608 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03011878

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03011878

Key words

  • Hearing: noise
  • Operating Rooms: noise
  • Measurement Techniques: cognition, noise
  • Memory