OR/PACU during pregnancy

Specialties PACU

Published

Specializes in Pediatrics.

What are your thoughts about being pregnant and working around anesthesia? I work in a surgical center and go between the OR and the PACU. My husband and I are trying to get pregnant and I have heard conflicting stories about the dangers. I am probably more concerned with the PACU because I am working so close to patients while they are breathing off the gases. The anesthesia smell is so strong on their breath! I would love to hear opinions and experiences you all might have had with this. Thanks!

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Not sure about the anesthesia gases, but one thing to be concerned about is the bone cement in orthopedic surgeries.

agree with marie about bone cement. other things to be careful of, and i'm sure you're already aware, is fluoro/x-ray or cesium rods. if you're concerned about anesthesia gases, ask a crna or anesthesiologist.

Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.

As most things in general have warnings about pregnancies, it is obvious that most gasses used in the OR are not to be used in the presence of usually first Trimester pregnancies. All of our anesthesia staff highly discourage any of our pregnant staff to refrain from coming into a room until after induction and the patient is intubated. As stated before, bone cement has to be the worse. We don't even schedule any pregnant ladies in those rooms, as well as any procedure that has x-rays or flouro. Why take chances! I know there have probably instances where a charge or a director has told an individual that if they can't be in a room where these things are being used, maybe they should stay home or do something else. This is very insensitive and shouldn't be tolerated. we do everything we can to put people into procedures where no harmful gasses or unnecessary x-rays are being used. Mike

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