The effect of the type of protective suit on the thermophysiological comfort of surgeons in an operating room

Abstract

Surgical gowns and medical clothing have to protect the surgeons from the patient and vice versa. However, all players in the operating room (OR) have to be in a state of thermophysiological comfort. The comfort of the surgeons is of special importance, as they are exposed to stressful situations, which could influence their performance negatively. The study presents an analysis of the thermophysiological comfort of the surgeons in an OR, using protective clothing ensembles with different clothing insulation and protection: a surgical scrub suit (SSS) and a clean air suite (CAS). The analysis is based on the calculation of PMV-PPD indexes, following Fanger’s model. Different combinations of thermal environment parameters and clothing insulation are tested and analysed.