To Ladies who are CRNA's

[sundayj]

Hi everyone,

I have a question for ladies and gentleman if they choose to participate :). What are the risks that are associated with workplace: gases, X-rays, etc. ( you know better) that may place CRNA's pregnancy in danger... I mean, if I am a CRNA and I become pregnant , will I be at higher risk for birth defects working as a CRNA b/o surgeons doing x-rays all day? Do you know any CRNA's who had their children while working?

i would greatly appreciate any responce. You would help me a lot!

[loveanesthesia]

Hi everyone,

if I am a CRNA and I become pregnant , will I be at higher risk for birth defects working as a CRNA b/o surgeons doing x-rays all day? Do you know any CRNA's who had their children while working?

Exposure to anesthetic inhalation agents is limited with the modern anesthesia machines, there is some exposure, for example during induction if you mask the patient with agent, and after extubation when the patient continues to breath off agent. Nitrous oxide is the only agent to be found to have any teratogenic effects, and that's only in high concentrations for prolonged durations. Radiation exposure is limited by using propoer precautions, lots of radiology staff who work daily with x-ray have no effects. OSHA will not allow workplace conditions that places the worker at risk. Exposue to methylmethacylate, a glue used in ortho procedures may be a concern, but that is debatable especially with the mixing containers now available. I know many female CRNAs, including myself, who have had healthy pregnancies. What can be a problem is the physical work load, such as staying up all night on call, and working long hours without breaks. I worked the day before I delivered with two pregnancies, and had short labors and big healthy babies.

[WVUturtle514]

I'm a CRNA and I'm currently 33 weeks pregnant with my first child. Basically I don't use nitrous in any of my cases...I won't put myself in pediatric cases where we will be doing mask inductions....and I try really hard not to be in rooms where they will be doing a lot of fluoro, but if I do I always wear my lead and stay as far away from the fluoro machine as possible. I've had no problems with my pregnancy thus far. I've found that the hardest thing is just working the long hours and being on my feet a lot....I'm usually exhausted when I get home!

[sundayj]

Thank you for the response, it is very clear. So, do you implement any other precautions except for the lead suit ( i don't know the proper name for it, sorry) during x-rays? Do you help lift patients to transfer the from the OR bed to the stretcher?

Thanks again. You gave me hope to begin to pursue this career.

[sundayj]

thanks for your response, too, WVUturtle514. Wishing you god's blessing for your little one! I am just wondering is there any limit to how many fluoro cases a person can have. Is there are such a thing as calculating total exposure to fluoro to make sure one is safe (don't get me wrong, you helped me understandthat the OR environment is safe to work at while being pregnant). I guess, I am a little absessed c my fear for fluoro :)

[sundayj]

wait.... do you STAND on your feet while the case is in process? What if it is very long 5-6 hrs? that must be tougher than waking

P.S. I was witnessing surgery a couple of times but right now I can't remember if a CRNA was sitting or standing... I think sitting.

[WVUturtle514]

I have a radiology badge for both myself and the baby that measures the amount of x-rays that I am exposed to. I wear it during every case. The badge is tested every month and it lets you know if you're being exposed to higher amounts of radiation than you should be. As far as lifting goes, the CRNA is usually at the head of the bed and in charge of the airway, so the only thing that I usually lift is the head when we're transferring a patient from the stretcher to the OR table. We all have chairs up near our anesthesia machines....I usually try to alternate between sitting and standing because I can't stay in one position too long. But I'm still up and walking a lot because I have to get ready for my cases, make sure my room is stocked and set up, etc....Good luck to you!

[alterego33]

There has never been a study showing any effects of anesthesia trace gases on the developing fetus or an increase of miscarriage. This topic has been studied many times with very large numbers of respondents. Most of the studies showed more miscarriages among critical care nurses than people working in the OR.

That being said, with the use of modern scavenger systems, low flow anesthesia and less mask anesthesia, we certainly feel better at the end of a long anesthesia day.

The biggest problem is that when you do anesthesia, you cannot leave the patient, so if you have nausea, vomiting, have to empty your bladder (all of those annoying things of pregnancy), it can be really uncomfortable.

To the previous question, I usually always sit when I do anesthesia, but do get up and move around, do some stretching and stand when I watch the surgery.

[sundayj]

thanks everyone for your very informative responses. I made some notes and am ready to pursue this career