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High noise levels in the operating room, particularly from bone-cutting drills and suction tips, pose a potential risk to the hearing of surgeons, staff, and patients.
Noise levels up to 118 dB--a level that is potentially damaging to the hearing--were measured in the operating room, notably during the use of high-speed gas turbine bone-cutting drills. Suction tips, which had trapped tissue "whistles" inside, yielded noise levels of up to 96 dB. Surgeons, staff, and patients should be cautioned against such noises and shielded in prolonged cases. We offer a review of acoustical criteria for various practical noises and duration of safe exposure.
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Ray et al. (1992) studied this question.
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