Chapter 88
- Environmental Safety Including Chemical Dependency
- William P. Arnold III
- Dorre Nicholau
In the past, perhaps the greatest threat to both patients and
anesthesiologists was the potential for fires and explosions. With the advent of
nonexplosive anesthetics, these hazards gradually vanished. Newer anesthetics, modern
intravenous drugs, state-of-the-art electronic equipment, and patients with transmissible
diseases are now part of our everyday practice and, consequently, have introduced
another generation of hazards. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss these contemporary
risks and appropriate preventive measures. This review includes many of the well-known
sources of apprehension, such as waste gases, radiation hazards, and infections;
emphasis is placed on infection and chemical dependence.
