Waste Anesthetic Gase: A Forgotten Problems

Waste anesthetic gas (WAG) is a small amount of inhaled that comes out the patient’s anesthesia breathing circuit into envorinment air while patient under anesthesia. According to American Occupation Safety and HealthAdministration (OSHA) more than 200.000 healthcare workers especially aneaesthesiologist, surgery nurse, obstetrician surgeons are at risk developing work-related disease due chronic exposure WAG. Exposure WAG in short time associated with multiple problems such as headaches, irritability, fatigue, nausea, drowsiness, decrease work efficiency difficulty judgment coordination. While genotoxicity, mutagenicity, oxidative stress, headache, nephrotoxic, neurotoxic, hepatotoxic, immunosuppressive reproductive toxicological effect. gases known environmental pollutants will be released from OR outside environment then substance reach atmosphere damaging ozone layer. trace perioperative cannot eliminated completely,but it can controlled. Controlling achieve by using scavenging system, proper ventilation, airway management, ideal choice, maintaining machine equipment, hospital regulation routine health status examination.