Air Conditioning Case Study

Questions
1) Explain why the malfunctioning air-conditioning system is not appropriate for an operating theatre environment (600 words)

Air-conditioning is not just about being able to achieve hot and cold temperatures, there is much more to it. It provides the theatre with filtered clean air, it has a ambient pressure, keeps temperature and humidity to the correct level and produces approximately 20 air changes per hour depending on the system installed. It assists in the removal of smells and odours from theatre, it also helps remove any anaesthetic gases which may not have been removed by the scavenging system. The air-conditioner blows over the surgical field removing microorganisms away from incision sites and equipment. (Mohta, 2010)

A staggering 41% reported fatigue meant they forget essential job items. (Cutts, 2018, cited online)

In the event of air-conditioning failure the theatre would become a very uncomfortable place, Theatre staff in sterile gowns with lead aprons on would become extremely hot, agitated and tired, even more so in our Northland environment.

In the event of using a theatre which is compromised due to the insufficient air-conditioning will increase the risk of infection, this in turn brings problems to the hospital. Not only will the patient possibly need to return to theatre, the patients will require beds for a longer period of time, more care and and time means more cost to the hospital.

The entire theatre, staff and hospital is compromised in the event of malfunctioning air-conditioning. Clean filtered air is pumped over the operating table it pushes any airborne microorganisms away from the surgical site in the aid of reducing infection. This in turn keeps staff cool, comfortable and focused. The hospital benefits from less infection patients taking up bed. My opinion is that a theatre which has a malfunctioning air-conditioning unit should not be used for the safety and wellbeing of the patient, staff and

The Idea of clean air flow in a sterile field came from Sir John Charnley, a British Orthopeadic surgeon. This was the start of the evolution of air flow and the decrease in infections in implant surgery.
For the system to work to its full potential the environment needs to be uninterrupted. The fans pass air over the surgical site and then away through return grills. It creates a type of “air curtain” around the sterile area which contaminated air cannot enter due to the force of the air flow within the curtain. It has a much faster rate of air changes than a standard filtered air-conditioning system and in theory is genius but in my research I have come across uncertainty in its ability to perform within busy theatre environment.
There are two types of laminar flow systems; ceiling mounted which is a vertical air flow or wall mounted which is an horizontal air flow. Both systems seem have flaws, the horizontal air flow can easily be disrupted by theatre staff walking around while performing their duties. Vertical air flow is disturbed by the heat from surgical lamps which in turn creates turbulence. (Al-Waked