Effects of a hot ambient operating theatre on manual dexterity, psychological and physiological parameters in staff during a simulated burn surgery

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 14; no. 10; p. e0222923
• Main Authors: Palejwala, Zehra, Wallman, Karen, Ward, M K, Yam, Cheryl, Maroni, Tessa, Parker, Sharon, Wood, Fiona
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 16.10.2019; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Alertness; Biology and Life Sciences; Body temperature; Burns - surgery; Circadian rhythm; Cognitive ability; Cooling; Core loss; Dehydration; Elective Surgical Procedures; Environmental conditions; Exercise; Female; Health Personnel; Heart Rate; Heat; Hot Temperature - adverse effects; Humans; Hydration; Hypothermia; Hypothermia - etiology; Hypothermia - prevention & control; Intraoperative Period; Male; Manual dexterity; Medicine and Health Sciences; Menstruation; Motor ability; Operating Rooms; Operative Time; Parameters; People and Places; Physical fitness; Physiological effects; Physiology; Simulation; Simulation Training; Social Sciences; Sport science; Studies; Subgroups; Surgery; Sweat; Temperature; Temperature effects; Warm up (exercise); Australia; Western Australia Australia
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222923
• ISSN: 1932-6203

Hot environmental conditions can result in a high core-temperature and dehydration which can impair physical and cognitive performance. This study aimed to assess the effects of a hot operating theatre on various performance, physiological and psychological parameters in staff during a simulated burn surgery. Due to varying activity levels, surgery staff were allocated to either an Active (n = 9) or Less-Active (n = 8) subgroup, with both subgroups performing two simulated burn surgery trials (CONTROL: ambient conditions; 23±0.2°C, 35.8±1.2% RH and HOT: 34±0°C, 28.3±1.9% RH; 150 min duration for each trial), using a crossover design with four weeks between trials. Manual dexterity, core-temperature, heart-rate, sweat-loss, thermal sensation and alertness were assessed at various time points during surgery. Pre-trials, 13/17 participants were mildly-significantly dehydrated (HOT) while 12/17 participants were mildly-significantly dehydrated (CONTROL). There were no significant differences in manual dexterity scores between trials, however there was a tendency for scores to be lower/impaired during HOT (both subgroups) compared to CONTROL, at various time-points (Cohen's d = -0.74 to -0.50). Furthermore, alertness scores tended to be higher/better in HOT (Active subgroup only) for most time-points (p = 0.06) compared to CONTROL, while core-temperature and heart-rate were higher in HOT either overall (Active; p<0.05) or at numerous time points (Less-Active; p<0.05). Finally, sweat-loss and thermal sensation were greater/higher in HOT for both subgroups (p<0.05). A hot operating theatre resulted in significantly higher core-temperature, heart-rate, thermal sensation and sweat-loss in staff. There was also a tendency for slight impairment in manual dexterity, while alertness improved. A longer, real-life surgery is likely to further increase physiological variables assessed here and in turn affect optimal performance/outcomes.