BACKGROUND: The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the noise level in an operating theatre as a possible surrogate marker for intraoperative behaviour, and to detect any correlation between sound level and subsequent surgical-site infection (SSI). METHODS: The sound level was measured during 35 elective open abdominal procedures. The noise intensity was registered digitally in decibels (dB) every second. A standard questionnaire was used to evaluate the behaviour of the surgical team during the operation. The primary outcome parameter was the SSI rate within 30 days of surgery. RESULTS: The overall rate of SSI was six of 35 (17 per cent). Demographic parameters and duration of operation were not significantly different between patients with, or without SSI. The median sound level (43·5 (range 26·0-60·0) versus 25·0 (25·0-60·0) dB; P = 0·040) and median level above baseline (10·7 (0·6-33·3) versus 0·6 (0·5-10·8); P = 0·001) were significantly higher for patients who developed a SSI. The sound level was at least 4 dB above the median in 22·5 per cent of the peaks in patients with SSI compared with 10·7 per cent in those without (P = 0·029). Talking about non-surgery-related topics was associated with a significantly higher sound level (P = 0·024). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative noise volume was associated with SSI. This may be due to a lack of concentration, or a stressful environment, and may therefore represent a surrogate parameter by which to assess the behaviour of a surgical team.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the noise level in an operating theatre as a possible surrogate marker for intraoperative behaviour, and to detect any correlation between sound level and subsequent surgical-site infection (SSI). METHODS: The sound level was measured during 35 elective open abdominal procedures. The noise intensity was registered digitally in decibels (dB) every second. A standard questionnaire was used to evaluate the behaviour of the surgical team during the operation. The primary outcome parameter was the SSI rate within 30 days of surgery. RESULTS: The overall rate of SSI was six of 35 (17 per cent). Demographic parameters and duration of operation were not significantly different between patients with, or without SSI. The median sound level (43·5 (range 26·0-60·0) versus 25·0 (25·0-60·0) dB; P = 0·040) and median level above baseline (10·7 (0·6-33·3) versus 0·6 (0·5-10·8); P = 0·001) were significantly higher for patients who developed a SSI. The sound level was at least 4 dB above the median in 22·5 per cent of the peaks in patients with SSI compared with 10·7 per cent in those without (P = 0·029). Talking about non-surgery-related topics was associated with a significantly higher sound level (P = 0·024). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative noise volume was associated with SSI. This may be due to a lack of concentration, or a stressful environment, and may therefore represent a surrogate parameter by which to assess the behaviour of a surgical team.
Authors: Julian-Camill Harnoss; Ojan Assadian; Markus Karl Diener; Thomas Müller; Romy Baguhl; Markus Dettenkofer; Lukas Scheerer; Thomas Kohlmann; Claus-Dieter Heidecke; Stephan Gessner; Markus Wolfgang Büchler; Axel Kramer Journal: Dtsch Arztebl Int Date: 2017-07-10 Impact factor: 5.594
Authors: Jonathan Blair Thomas Herron; James Alan Kuht; Ammar Zahid Hussain; Kamila Kinga Gens; Andrew Douglas Gilliam Journal: J Infect Prev Date: 2019-03-26
Authors: Gabriel Birgand; Christine Azevedo; Gaelle Toupet; Roger Pissard-Gibollet; Bruno Grandbastien; Eric Fleury; Jean-Christophe Lucet Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2014-01-02 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Rogier M P H Crolla; Lijckle van der Laan; Eelco J Veen; Yvonne Hendriks; Caroline van Schendel; Jan Kluytmans Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-09-04 Impact factor: 3.240