Aerosolisation in endonasal endoscopic pituitary surgery

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the particle size, concentration, airborne duration and spread during endoscopic endonasal pituitary surgery in actual patients in a theatre setting. Methods: This observational study recruited a convenience sample of three patients. Procedures were performed in a positive pressure operating room. Particle image velocimetry and spectrometry with air sampling were used for aerosol detection. Results: Intubation and extubation generated small particles (< 5 µm) in mean concentrations 12 times greater than background noise (p 75 µm), remained airborne for up to 10 s and travelled up to 1.1 m. Use of a microdebrider generated mean aerosol concentrations 18 times above base..