Development and validation of a patient face-mounted, negative-pressure antechamber for reducing exposure of healthcare workers to aerosolized particles during endonasal surgery

OBJECTIVE The authors developed a negative-pressure, patient face-mounted antechamber and tested its efficacy as tool for sequestering aerated particles improving the safety of endonasal surgical procedures. METHODS Antechamber prototyping was performed with 3D printing silicone-elastomer molding. lowest vacuum settings needed to meet specifications class I biosafety cabinets (flow rate ≥ 0.38 m/sec) were determined using an anemometer. A cross-validation approach two different techniques, optical particle sizing high-speed videography/shadowgraphy, used identify minimum pressures required sequester aerosolized materials. At identified, physical parameters quantified, including flow rate, pressure, time clearance. RESULTS tube −1.0 −14.5 mm Hg chambers (“closed face”) without (“open silicone diaphragm covering operative port, respectively. Optical did not detect aerosol generation from drilling at these settings; however, videography estimated higher thresholds contain aerosols, −6 −35 Hg. Simulation movement disrupted containment visualized by shadowgraphy in open-faced but closed-faced version mask; closed-face mask increased negative pressure (−15 Hg) aerosols during simulation. CONCLUSIONS Portable, negative-pressure compartments can attainable standard hospital clinic vacuums. Future studies are carefully consider reliability techniques detecting aerosols.