Abstract
Background
The relationship between colorectal and hysterectomy surgical site infections (SSI) and air pressure variability inside operating rooms (OR) during procedures is understudied.
Methods
Our retrospective cohort study featured patients who underwent procedures assigned National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) colorectal or abdominal hysterectomy codes. The primary exposure was percentage of procedure time out of pressure range. NHSN criteria were used to identify SSIs. We used multivariable binary logistic regression modelling to analyze the association between the exposure and SSIs. Sensitivity models of more homogeneous patients (e.g., only colorectal patients, only patients with at least one instance of pressure < 1 Pascal) were also conducted.
Results
Of 1,663 patients, 933 (56%) underwent colorectal surgery and 730 (44%) had hysterectomies. After multivariable adjustment, no association between OR pressure deviations and SSIs was identified (odds-ratio for 1% increase of procedure time pressure out of range [95% confidence interval]: 1.05 [0.46, 2.24]); this null association remained for the aforementioned sensitivity models.
Conclusions
No significant association observed between OR air pressure variability and development of colorectal and hysterectomy SSIs.
KEY WORDS
Surgical site infection; Operating room; Air pressure; Colorectal; Hysterectomy