BACKGROUND: Studies of offspring of mothers exposed to anesthetic gases have shown associations with congenital anomalies reported by the mothers, but rarely in studies with objectively ascertained outcomes. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine associations between registry-ascertained congenital anomalies in offspring and anesthetic gas exposure of mothers employed as nurses. METHODS: A cohort of registered nurses in British Columbia, Canada, was linked to records of births and congenital anomalies from 1990 to 2000. Exposures were assessed via a survey of anesthetic gas use in all hospitals in the province and records of nurses' jobs, departments, and hospitals. RESULTS: Departments most frequently reporting anesthetic gas use were operating rooms, post-anesthetic recovery rooms, and maternity units. In the cohort of 15,317 live-borne children of 9,433 mothers, 1,079 had congenital anomalies. Anomalies were associated with ever and probable maternal exposure to halogenated gases (ORs: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.04-2.13; and 2.61, 95% CI: 1.31-5.18, respectively) and to nitrous oxide (ORs: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.05-1.94; and 1.82, 95% CI: 1.11-2.99). Anomalies most frequently associated with exposure were those of the heart (OR, halogenated gases: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.07-4.97) and integument (OR, halogenated gases: 3.56, 95% CI: 1.53-8.32; OR, nitrous oxide: 3.02, 95% CI: 1.37-6.64). Gases most frequently associated with anomalies were halothane (predominantly used early in the study period), isoflurane, and sevoflurane (predominantly used later in the period). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, where both exposures and outcomes were assessed objectively, certain congenital anomalies were associated with estimated anesthetic gas exposure.
BACKGROUND: Studies of offspring of mothers exposed to anesthetic gases have shown associations with congenital anomalies reported by the mothers, but rarely in studies with objectively ascertained outcomes. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine associations between registry-ascertained congenital anomalies in offspring and anesthetic gas exposure of mothers employed as nurses. METHODS: A cohort of registered nurses in British Columbia, Canada, was linked to records of births and congenital anomalies from 1990 to 2000. Exposures were assessed via a survey of anesthetic gas use in all hospitals in the province and records of nurses' jobs, departments, and hospitals. RESULTS: Departments most frequently reporting anesthetic gas use were operating rooms, post-anesthetic recovery rooms, and maternity units. In the cohort of 15,317 live-borne children of 9,433 mothers, 1,079 had congenital anomalies. Anomalies were associated with ever and probable maternal exposure to halogenated gases (ORs: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.04-2.13; and 2.61, 95% CI: 1.31-5.18, respectively) and to nitrous oxide (ORs: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.05-1.94; and 1.82, 95% CI: 1.11-2.99). Anomalies most frequently associated with exposure were those of the heart (OR, halogenated gases: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.07-4.97) and integument (OR, halogenated gases: 3.56, 95% CI: 1.53-8.32; OR, nitrous oxide: 3.02, 95% CI: 1.37-6.64). Gases most frequently associated with anomalies were halothane (predominantly used early in the study period), isoflurane, and sevoflurane (predominantly used later in the period). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, where both exposures and outcomes were assessed objectively, certain congenital anomalies were associated with estimated anesthetic gas exposure.
Authors: M Delnord; K Szamotulska; A D Hindori-Mohangoo; B Blondel; A J Macfarlane; N Dattani; C Barona; S Berrut; I Zile; R Wood; L Sakkeus; M Gissler; J Zeitlin Journal: Eur J Public Health Date: 2016-01-10 Impact factor: 3.367
Authors: Wilmina N Landford; Ledibabari M Ngaage; Erica Lee; Yvonne Rasko; Robin Yang; Sheri Slezak; Richard Redett Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-07-02 Impact factor: 3.240