Assessment of inflammatory markers in medical residents exposed for three years to waste anesthetic gases

Abstract

There is a great concern about possible harmful effects of exposure to inhaled anesthetics both in patients undergoing surgical procedures as well as in occupationally exposed professionals. However, little is known about the inflammatory response of the medical staff exposed to waste anesthetic gases. Thus, the current study will evaluate, for the first time, the effects of occupational exposure to waste anesthetic gases in medical residents who work in operating rooms without adequate air exchange, by determining the inflammatory cytokine profiles (inflammatory markers). This study will be conducted in 30 medical residents who work at "Hospital das Clínicas", Botucatu Medical School - UNESP, and will be allocated into the two following groups of 15: the exposed group, consisting of residents exposed for a period of three years to waste anesthetic gases (isoflurane, desflurane, sevoflurane and nitrous oxide) and a control group composed of residents of specialties not exposed to waste anesthetic gases. Venous blood sample will be collected a single time and plasma inflammatory cytokines (IL-1b, -6, -8, -10, -12 TNF-a) will be determined by the cytometric bead array (CBA) using flow cytometry. It is expected that the results can provide information for the acknowledgement of possible adverse effects of the waste anesthetic gases in the immune system of professionals exposed. Additionally, the findings can contribute to the establishment of strategies to reduce the risks for exposed professionals.