Key result
Operating room exposure among physicians was associated with increased spontaneous abortion, congenital abnormalities in offspring, and hepatic disease in male anesthetists.
Why the study?
Does occupational exposure in the operating room increase the risk of adverse reproductive and health outcomes in physicians?
Observational
Yes
Does occupational exposure in the operating room increase the risk of adverse reproductive and health outcomes in physicians?
Occupational exposure in the operating room is associated with significant reproductive and health hazards for physicians, including increased risks of spontaneous abortion and congenital abnormalities.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May warrant protective OR measures for physicians; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective confirmation.
Comparative analysis of data from three large retrospective surveys in the United States and the United Kingdom reaffirms an increased incidence of spontaneous abortion among female physicians working in the operating room. The live-born children of female physicians exposed in the operating room also had substantially more congenital abnormalities. Male anesthetists, compared with nonanesthetist physicians, had an increased incidence of hepatic disease; there was also an increased frequency of congenital abnormality in their children. The incidence of spontaneous abortion in wives of male anesthetists and in the rate of cancer among exposed male anesthetists was similar to control. Despite differences in survey methods and analysis, there was remarkable agreement in conclusions to be drawn from the independent studies. (JAMA238:955-959, 1977)
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A. A. Spence (1977) conducted an observational in Occupational hazards. Operating room exposure vs. Nonanesthetist physicians / non-exposed controls was evaluated on Spontaneous abortion, congenital abnormalities, hepatic disease, and cancer. Operating room exposure among physicians was associated with increased spontaneous abortion, congenital abnormalities in offspring, and hepatic disease in male anesthetists.
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