Neurocirugía1202008; 19:Recibido:121Neurocirugía2008 19:Summary Objectives.
This study was undertaken to evaluate whether the surgeons’ oxygen saturation of hemoglobin was affected by the surgical mask or not during major operations.
Methods. Repeated measures, longitudinal and pros-pective observational study was performed on 53 surgeons using a pulse oximeter pre and postoperatively.
Results. Our study revealed a decrease in the oxygen saturation of arterial pulsations (SpO2) and a slight increase in pulse rates compared to preoperative values in all surgeon groups. The decrease was more promi-nent in the surgeons aged over 35.
Conclusions. Considering our findings, pulse rates of the surgeon’s increase and SpO2 decrease after the first hour. This early change in SpO2 may be either due to the facial mask or the operational stress. Since a very small decrease in saturation at this level, reflects a large decrease in PaO2, our findings may have a clinical value for the health workers and the surgeons.
http://scielo.isciii.es/pdf/neuro/v19n2/3.pdf
Headaches and the N95 face-mask amongst healthcare providers.Lim EC1, Seet RC, Lee KH, Wilder-Smith EP,Chuah BY,Ong BK
CONCLUSIONS:Healthcare providers may develop headaches following the use of the N95 face-mask. Shorter duration of face-mask wear may reduce the frequency and severity of these headaches.
Thanks for posting.
The bullet seems to be:
“Shorter duration of face-mask wear may reduce the frequency and severity of these headaches.”
I was talking to some nurses on FB today and they complained about headaches and at the end of their shifts they said that had “fuzzy thinking” and not at their best. They hate the masks.