CRNA Health Problems

yoga crna · May 19, 2005

You need to be more specific. Where did you hear it? Where was the data published? How was the published data obtained? If you want to be a CRNA, you must learn now how to practice with evidence-based data, not rumor or speculation. It is good to start now.

Yoga CRNA (very healthy, but have never been part of a survey on the topic)

JimmyMallo · May 19, 2005

I know a couple of schools make you sign waivers that you inderstand exposure to the gasses can cause fertility problems but that's the only thing I've ever heard. All of the practitioners I've ever met were in good health and had families so your guess is as good as mine :uhoh21:

Kiwi, BSN, RN · May 19, 2005

Here is an article from AANA on CRNAs and chemical dependency.

http://www.aana.com/peer/chemdepend.asp

kestrel1121 · May 20, 2005

a lot of prior health problems revolved around 'open' systems, where the gases were being rebreathed by everyone in the OR. Modern anesthesia machines use a scavenging system that all but eliminates this problem. I don't think health problems from gas exposure is a current issue.

NGACRNA · May 24, 2005

Yeah, they were all "British" studies, and yeah, a lot of them involved unscavenged dental offices, but still the rate of birth defects was significant. And yes, it might have been associated with some of those "older" agents we used to use besides N2O.

Anecdotally, I've seen way too many spontaneous abortions in female CRNAs. I've seen many have healthy babies, and I've heard the arguement that some women are just "prone" to miscarriages, but my experience leads me to push for caution. And there used to be issues in PACUs too.

Hope I didn't ruin anyone's day or dreams.

apaisRN, RN, CRNA · May 24, 2005

Yeah, they were all "British" studies, and yeah, a lot of them involved unscavenged dental offices, but still the rate of birth defects was significant. And yes, it might have been associated with some of those "older" agents we used to use besides N2O.
Anecdotally, I've seen way too many spontaneous abortions in female CRNAs. I've seen many have healthy babies, and I've heard the arguement that some women are just "prone" to miscarriages, but my experience leads me to push for caution. And there used to be issues in PACUs too.
Hope I didn't ruin anyone's day or dreams.

Do you have any further info? Links, etc? I do know a female CRNA that had a tough time getting pregnant, but I don't know any details like was it infertility, repeated miscarriage, etc.

ivypetals · May 25, 2005

i actually had the same question....anyone got any info as i'd like to have a family someday. i am also concerned with the x-rays during procedures...as i've often seen crna's not wearing any protective gear....

i've heard something recently, but don't know if it's true and was wondering what y'all thought. i've heard that working in anesthsia causes health problems down the road. is this true? what kinds of problems?

MissJoRN, RN · May 25, 2005

i actually had the same question....anyone got any info as i'd like to have a family someday. i am also concerned with the x-rays during procedures...as i've often seen crna's not wearing any protective gear....

you should be wearing lead for xrays, make sure you bring an apron and thyroid in with you before your cases scheduled with rad or are friendly enough with a circulator to grab one for you- many will if you have the right attitude in a pinch, short film, you can stand behind someone with lead on- assuming you can get someone to stand still long enough, but it's best to have your own.

pregnancy and teratogenicity- i'm sure the data is in your drug texts or packaging information- does it vary by agent? i really don't know- i've never been pregnant or given anesthesia, so have never really been too concerned, we don't let pregnant nurses in rooms with kids throughout the case, d/t uncuffed tubes, same goes for some trachs, but also keep in mind other questionable fumes in the room: bovie smoke, bone cement, chemo drugs, steris cycle chemicals. scavenger systems seem to vary from hospital to hospital, or in the case of some older suites- room to room. make sure your schedulers, bosses, and sympathetic co-workers know about a pregnancy asap, maybe discuss your concerns with your ob-gyn first? remember, he or she operates, too and knows what you're exposed to!

heartICU · May 25, 2005

I know the methylmethacrylate they use as bone cement is teratogenic. Our pregnant CRNAs don't do ortho for the duration of their pregnancy.