Pollution with nitrous oxide using laryngeal mask or face mask

BACKGROUND: As environmental pollution by nitrous oxide may influence the health of the personnel working in operating theatres, the incidence and magnitude of nitrous oxide (N2O) leakage, when using a face mask or a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) for controlled ventilation, were studied in 34 patients scheduled for elective cystoscopy. METHODS: A semi-closed gas delivery ventilation system with active scavenging was used. The N2O concentrations were measured every 8 s at a position 30 cm above the patient's mouth with a N2O gas monitor (GD 200, Simrad Optronics). RESULTS: When using a face mask, the leakage of N2O resulted in a N2O concentration of 157 (85-332) p.p.m. (parts per million) (median concentration and 25% and 75% percentiles). With the LMA, a lower median concentration of N2O of 60 (28-126) p.p.m. was found (P=0.04). With the face mask, a concentration above 100 p.p.m. was found during 51% of the exposure time compared to 24% of the time in the LMA group. CONCLUSION: Environmental pollution was less with the LMA than the face mask, but under the conditions of the study both modes of airway management were associated with levels of N2O peak concentrations in the breathing zone of anaesthetists that are deemed to be excessively high by the Danish National Institute for Occupational Safety.