Airborne bacterial contamination during orthopedic surgery: A randomized controlled pilot trial.

Study Objective: Several factors such as lack of unidirectional, turbulent free laminar airflow, duration of surgery, patient warming system, or the number of health professionals in the OR have been shown or suspected to increase the number of airborne bacteria. The objective of this study was to perform a multivariate analysis of bacterial counts in the OR in patients during minor orthopedic surgery.

Design: Prospective, randomized pilot study.

Impact of different-sized laminar air flow versus no laminar air flow on bacterial counts in the operating room during orthopedic surgery.

Background: This study investigated the influence of the size of unidirectional ceiling distribution systems on counts of viable microorganisms recovered at defined sites in operating room (ORs) and on instrument tables during orthopedic surgery.

Methods: We compared bacterial sedimentation during 80 orthopedic surgeries. A total of 19 surgeries were performed in ORs with a large (518 cm × 380 cm) unidirectional ceiling distribution (colloquially known as laminar air flow [LAF]) ventilation system, 21 procedures in ORs with a small (380 cm × 120 cm) LAF system, and 40 procedures in ORs with no LAF system.

Resistive-polymer versus forced-air warming: comparable efficacy in orthopedic patients.

Background: Several adverse consequences are caused by mild perioperative hypothermia. Maintaining normothermia with patient warming systems, today mostly with forced air (FA), has thus become a standard procedure during anesthesia. Recently, a polymer-based resistive patient warming system was developed.