From the Internal Medicine Department, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel (Dr Shechtman and Dr Ben-Zvi); Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel (Dr Shechtman, Dr ben-Haim, Dr Ben-Zvi, Dr Steel, Dr Ironi, Dr Chatterji, and Dr Levy); Department of Emergency Medicine, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel (Dr Ben-Haim, Dr Steel, and Dr Ironi); Biostatistics Research Unit, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada (Dr Huszti); Institute of Pulmonary Medicine, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel (Dr Chatterji and Dr Levy).
J Occup Environ Med. 2022 Jun 1;64(6):e378-e380. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002542. Epub 2022 May 4.
The objective of the current study was to determine gas exchange abnormalities and physiological changes among healthcare workers during a 4-hour emergency department (ED) shift while wearing the N95 respirator.
Single-center prospective observational study. Comparisons of paired measurements were performed using a non-parametric Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test. Results: Forty-one subjects were included. Prolonged N95 respirator use was associated with a significant decline in plasma pH (7.35 mmHg vs 7.34 mmHg, P = 0.02), PvO 2 (23.2 mmHg vs 18.6 mmHg, P < 0.001) and a concurrent increase in EtCO 2 (32.5 mmHg vs 38.5 mmHg, P < 0.0001). PvCO 2 and bicarbonate levels did not differ. No significant change was observed for heart rate or oxygen saturation.
Using an N95 respirator for prolonged periods by healthcare professionals may provoke changes in gas exchange. The clinical significance of these changes remains to be determined.
本研究旨在确定医护人员在佩戴 N95 口罩进行 4 小时急诊（ED）轮班时的气体交换异常和生理变化。
单中心前瞻性观察研究。使用非参数 Wilcoxon 配对符号秩检验对配对测量值进行比较。结果：共纳入 41 名受试者。长时间使用 N95 口罩与血浆 pH 值显著下降（7.35mmHg 与 7.34mmHg，P=0.02）、PvO2 降低（23.2mmHg 与 18.6mmHg，P<0.001）和 EtCO2 升高（32.5mmHg 与 38.5mmHg，P<0.0001）有关。PvCO2 和碳酸氢盐水平没有差异。心率或氧饱和度没有观察到显著变化。
医护人员长时间使用 N95 口罩可能会引起气体交换的变化。这些变化的临床意义尚待确定。
