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Review of Chemical, Medication, and Anesthesia Toxicity in the OR
Author(s) -
Fiedler Michael A.,
Biddle Chuck
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
aorn journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1878-0369
pISSN - 0001-2092
DOI - 10.1016/s0001-2092(06)62887-1
Subject(s) - toxicity , anesthetic , medicine , anesthesia , volatile anesthetic , intensive care medicine , toxicology , biology
A host of toxic substances exist in the OR. The toxicity of prep‐solutions, cleaning chemicals, common medications, and trace anesthetic gases varies greatly. Nurses use, direct others in the use of, or administer potential toxins while breathing air that may be contaminated to some degree with anesthetic vapors. Often, the OR nurse is the neighborhood resource when questions about the toxicity of common chemicals and drugs arise. A general knowledge of the toxicity of these substances improves the nurse's ability to assess the risk from trace anesthetic gases, prevent injury to patients, provide first aid when potentially dangerous exposure occurs, and direct others in the safe use of OR chemicals. AORN J 67 (Feb 1998) 398–411.