Introduction

Operating rooms (OR) are noisy. Surgical equipment, monitors, heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, music and team member communication all contribute to noise pollution in the OR [1,2,3,4,5,6]. OR noise pollution can negatively impact surgical technique and team communication [7, 8]. Such factors can lead to poor surgical outcomes [9, 10]. More so, acoustic trauma and noise-induced hearing loss to patients is also documented, as anesthesia can blunt natural acoustic reflexes to sudden spikes in noise [4]. Increased noise during surgery can also be deleterious for OR team members’ health. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus are among adverse outcomes for staff with sustained exposure to loud ORs [11]. Recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have established hospital and OR noise safety limits as 35 a-weighted decibels (dBA) and 45 dBA, respectively [12, 13].

Previous data has demonstrated that OR noise levels can be greater than the aforementioned safety limits, ranging between 51 and 75 dBA [12, 13]. For example, literature in Orthopedic Surgery has focused on exploring noise levels, and its detrimental effects [2, 14,15,16]. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) ORs are among some of the loudest due to the use of high-speed tools [17, 18]. Despite this, there is a dearth of literature evaluating noise in OHNS surgery. Specifically, it is unclear whether noise in OHNS surgery can negatively impact OR team communication, healthcare worker safety and patient outcomes.

As such, the purpose of this study is to quantify noise levels across all OHNS surgeries as well as OHNS specific cadaver labs. By identifying studies assessing noise OHNS ORs and cadaver labs a more unified understanding regarding what contributes to increased noise in these environments is possible. Importantly, interventions aimed at reducing noise during OHNS may be possible. With such an understanding, OR team communication, surgical performance and patient outcomes may be improved.

Methods

Search

This systematic review was completed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines [19]. The database searches were performed by two reviewers (G.S. / A.N) and corroborated by a health sciences librarian at the University of Toronto. Databases searched included: Ovid Medline, Ovid EMBASE, Pubmed, SCOPUS and Cochrane. The search was completed from database inception (1946) to April 1, 2020. Keywords and Medical subject headings (MeSH) that were searched included: noise, sound, amplification, decibel; operating room, operating theatre, operation; communication, conversation; surgeon, scrub nurse, circulating nurse, anesthesiologist; patient morbidity; otolaryngology; head and neck surgery. Additionally, MeSH terms of 27 of the most common OHNS surgeries were included in the search (Supplementary Table 1). These surgeries were selected by the authors.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria consisted of studies investigating noise or sound measurements inside of OHNS ORs and/or simulations utilizing cadaveric labs. Prospective and retrospective observational studies were included. Papers published in a non-English language or a non-peer reviewed journal were excluded. Studies looking at noise in non-OHNS ORs were excluded. Abstracts, conference posters, reviews, letters to editors, editorials were also excluded.

Data extraction and analysis

Two reviewers (G.S. / A.N.) selected articles from the search, based on the aforementioned inclusion and exclusion criteria. If there were any disagreements in article selection between the two reviewers, these were resolved by consensus. If a disagreement persisted, a third reviewer was consulted (M.L.) All title, abstract and full text screening was completed using Covidence (version 1501). Extracted data included in study demographics, noise-related data as well as any data regarding the effects of noise. Data from full text extraction were then placed into and categorized in a Google Sheets document. Means and standard deviations (SD) of noise measurements were calculated. Independent-sample t-tests were used to compare maximum (Lpeak) and mean noise measurements. P-values of < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Descriptive results and statistical analysis were performed in Stata (version 15.1).

Results

Study demographics

This search initially identified 2914 articles. Final inclusion consisted of 22 articles (Fig. 1). Ten articles quantified noise in OHNS ORs, and 11 in OHNS cadaver labs (Table 1). One study quantified noise in both settings [36]. Study demographic data are displayed in Table 1. With regards to included study homogeneity, the majority of articles analyzed noise level exposures during mastoid surgery (18/22, 82%). The other four studies included head-and-neck reconstructive procedures, neck dissections or unspecified OHNS ORs.

Fig. 1
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PRISMA flowchart

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Table 1 Included article demographic data
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Noise measurements

Tools used to quantify noise levels in OHNS ORs and OHNS cadaver labs are summarized in Table 2. Location of noise measurements are summarized in Table 3. In OHNS ORs, three studies measured noise levels from certain positions within the OR [23, 26, 38]. Five studies measured noise levels from the position of the surgeon’s ear or shoulder [18, 23, 30, 36, 37]. Three studies measured noise levels from a position close to the burr or patient’s ear [3, 24, 31] and one study did not specify the location of noise measurement [20]. In OHNS cadaver labs, five studies measured noise levels from a position on a segment of temporal bone [22, 28, 29, 32, 33] and four studies from a position within the external auditory canal (EAC) of the cadaver [27, 34, 35, 39]. In one study, the noise dosimeter was fixed to participants in the lab [36] and in another from within a silent chamber [21]. One study did not specify the location of measurement [25].

Table 2 Article specific noise data
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Table 3 Average noise level by location
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Maximum and mean noise levels were computed for OHNS ORs and cadaver lab articles. The maximum noise level across all OHNS ORs and OHNS cadaver labs were 95.5 dBA (± SD 24.6 dBA) and 105 c-weighted decibels (dBC) (± SD 14.4 dBC), respectively (Fig. 2) (P = 0.2068). The range of maximum noise levels was 62.5–125.5 dBA in OHNS OR studies, and 76–130 dBA in OHNS cadaver studies. All but one article recorded mean noise levels. The mean noise levels in OHNS ORs and OHNS cadaver labs were 70.1 dBA (± SD 19.2 dBA) and 95.6 dBA (± SD 17.2 dBA), respectively (Fig. 2) (P = 0.0038). The mean noise level across all studies was 83.6 dBA (± SD 20 dBA) with a range of 48.3–118.9 dBA (Table 2). HVAC background noise levels were recorded in three OHNS OR studies with a mean of 42.5 dBA (± SD 20 dBA) across these articles.

Fig. 2
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Mean and maximum noise levels by measurement location

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Noise exposure by procedure

The majority of the literature investigated otologic procedures, namely mastoid surgery. Four studies investigated other otolaryngology procedures that were not specified or were head and neck related surgeries including neck dissection and reconstructive surgery. Otologic procedures demonstrated significantly higher average noise levels (91.4 ± SD 19.6 dBA) in comparison to head and neck related and other otolaryngology procedures (58.6 ± SD 7.5 dBA) (P = 0.0046). However, there were no significant differences between mean maximum noise level of otologic surgeries (101.5 ± SD 4.7 dBC) and head and neck related and other otolaryngology procedures (101.5 ± SD 12.1 dBC) (P = 0.9984). Amongst the otologic procedures, noise levels were investigated in six studies from ORs during surgery [18, 20, 24, 30, 31, 37], 11 studies were performed in simulated cadaver labs [21, 22, 25, 27,28,29, 32,33,34,35, 39], and one study investigated both settings [36]. Average noise levels of otologic surgeries in the OR (79.3 ± SD 9.6 dBA) revealed no significant difference to cadaver simulated procedures (96.9 ± SD 5.1 dBA) (P = 0.096). Similarly, there was no significant difference in maximum noise levels measured in the OR (91.5 ± SD 10.7 dB) and cadaver simulation lab (106.5 ± SD 4.2 dBC) (P = 0.13).

Discussion

Noise levels and exposure in operating theatres have been studied in several surgical specialties including orthopedic [1, 2, 14,15,16], cardiac [40], neurosurgery [26], urology [41] and general surgery ORs [42]. The literature on noise levels during OHNS surgeries have not been clearly established. This review identified, analyzed and summarized 22 articles on noise in OHNS ORs and cadaveric labs.

Recommendations by the WHO and EPA have established safe limits for noise in the OR at 45 dBA [12, 13]. Our systematic review shows that noise levels in all included studies was considerably higher than these recommendations. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) defines 87 dBA as the maximum safe noise level during an eight-hour work shift [43]. The average noise levels of included articles in this review was 83.6 dBA, nearing recommended exposure limits of 85 dBA to avoid noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) from long term exposure [44]. The maximum noise levels in OHNS ORs was 95.5 dBA across all studies, with the highest level recorded in a study being 125.5 dBC. Maximum noise levels across all OHNS cadaver labs was 105 dBC, reaching as high as 130 dBC. Hence, while across all included studies average noise levels did not surpass recommended workplace safety levels, maximum levels were greater than proposed workplace safety levels. Average noise levels were found to be lower in OHNS ORs (70.1 dBA), compared to OHNS cadaver studies (95.6 dBA). Noise levels may have reached higher levels in simulated cadaveric studies due to the positioning of the measuring instrumentation (Table 3). For example, 9/11 of the cadaveric studies recorded noise levels from a position in close proximity to the drilling equipment, either affixed to the temporal bone or within the EAC. Whereas in OR studies, the noise measuring instruments were often placed at a central location in the OR, or at the level of the surgeon’s ear, further away from the drilling equipment. Additionally, the operator is usually 2–2.5 ft away from the drilling equipment during surgery, making the noise level quieter than what would be heard directly next to the drill. However, there was no significant difference between average noise levels in otologic procedures in OHNS OR compared to cadaveric studies, suggesting that these procedures are inherently noisy, regardless of the location in which the noise was measured. Despite differences between OR and cadaver-based studies, noise during OHNS surgery problematically reaches above the recommended WHO/EPA safety levels. As such, these noise hazards may put OHNS OR team members at risk for occupational NIHL.

Noise levels in OHNS operating theatres are considered to be among the loudest in surgical specialties [17, 18]. In Cardiac surgery, noise levels reached 90 dBA; whereas, General Surgery reached levels of 55.84 dBA [40]. Neurosurgery ORs have been reported to reach noises levels of 78.2 dBA [26]. In one study analyzing noise in orthopedic ORs, maximum sounds levels were 101.2 dBC with peak sound levels reaching as high as 134.8 dBC in total knee and total hip arthroplasty [16]. In this review, five OHNS studies showed peak noise levels ranging from 108 to 135.9 dBC. It is clear that ORs demonstrate increased levels of noise pollution, regardless of surgery type.

The literature review reveals multiple factors contributing to noise in OHNS ORs, including surgical equipment use, anesthetic monitors and background noise including laminar airflow systems and staff conversation. Suction and surgical instruments were noted to be the greatest contributors to OHNS OR-generated noise with power tools being among the noisiest instruments. Parameters further influencing noise from power tools include burr size and burr type. Burr size positively contributed to increased noise levels [20, 21, 31], meanwhile many of the studies consistently demonstrated cutting burrs producing louder noise than diamond burrs [20, 29, 39]. Among all procedures in this study, mastoid related surgery studies demonstrated significantly higher noise levels in comparison to non-mastoid related studies. This difference is likely due to the constant use of high-powered drill instruments during mastoid surgery that may not be used, or used for shorter duration, during other OHNS operations.

Noise and auditory distraction in the OR can hamper surgical performance and impair team communication. Noise has been shown to negatively impacts the surgeon’s speed of operation, time to complete surgical tasks, and the economy of the surgeon’s motion, yielding reduced accuracy and increased error rates [45]. Previous studies have reported that noise pollution during times of increased task difficulty may have an effect on surgical performance by increasing time of task completion and distance required for tool traveling during procedures [46,47,48]. This is most notably demonstrated by junior trainees with less surgical experience and more prone to being distracted with noise pollution.

The median expected noise-induced permanent threshold shift of 3–6 kHz at an 85-dB noise exposure level in an 8-h working day for 10 years is 4-dB, and 5-dB after 40 years. Therefore, most of the NIHL occurs in the first 10 years of noise exposure [44]. In the current review, average noise levels were 83.6 dBA when analyzed together, which closely approximates the 85-dB threshold level for risk of NIHL at 10-years. In OHNS ORs, average noise levels were 70.1 dBA, which is below that threshold. However, peak noise levels reached as high as 135.9 dBC, which may increase the risk of NIHL [32]. Additionally, certain drilling conditions, such as drilling on cortical bone with cutting burrs larger than 5 mm may pose risk to hearing [36]. Few studies have investigated the risk of occupational NIHL in OHNS ORs and with conflicting results. Prasad and Reddy concluded that powered instruments used in OHNS surgery are safe and pose no occupational hazard. While other studies have shown sound levels below international occupational noise level regulations, these authors posit that noise exposure during drilling may have negative effects on care providers [30, 36, 37]. Moreover, Fritsch et al. recorded noise levels as high as 131 dBC and concluded that instrument noise levels in average length OHNS ORs may exceed international noise regulations. Additionally, chronic exposure to noise has been linked to other chronic health pathologies such as hypertension, sleep disturbance, cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression and others [49]. Therefore, the risk of NIHL and other chronic conditions in cumulative exposures to noise in OHNS OR may be significant and future studies should continue to elucidate this occupational hazard.

This systematic review has certain limitations. Primarily, there are few published studies on noise in OHNS ORs, and most that have been published, are focused on mastoid surgery. As such, the external validity of the results is limited due to the high noise levels generated in these procedures. For example, minor procedures performed with different equipment and limited staff may generate lower noise levels than those identified in this review. Given this shortcoming of this literature, the understanding of noise across all of the OHNS operations is still not completely understood. Although cadaveric models represent a surrogate method for measuring noise generated by various instruments and procedures, the majority of these studies measured noise from a proximity closer to what a surgeon may be exposed to in the OR. Additionally, because many of the included studies used different outcome variables, and had different potentially confounding variables, the heterogeneity of the studies made meta-analysis not possible. As no included studies were randomized-controlled trials, formal evaluation of evidence quality was not completed, however the evidence quality is likely low given the included study types. Many studies that measured noise in the OR did not quantify the impact of noise on surgical team communication and patient outcomes. Hence, while noise has been demonstrated to negatively influence OR communication in other surgical specialties, this causal relationship is still not understood in OHNS surgery., most included studies did not discuss the duration of noise exposure. As CCOHS recommends less than 87 dBA of noise consistently, for an eight-hour work shift, conclusions regarding the necessity for ear protection during OHNS ORs are limited.

Future studies on this topic should prospectively evaluate how noise in OHNS ORs contributes to miscommunication, surgical errors and patient outcomes. Moreover, certain procedures, such as those done under neuroleptic anesthesia require quiet environments. Future studies should aim to identify contributors of noise, and methods to mitigate noise exposure during these situations. Additionally, future studies should investigate noise across other OHNS ORs that commonly use drilling, such as endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery as well as OHNS minor procedures.

With the data from this study, it is important to critically evaluate how positive change can be made to reduce noise in OHNS ORs. While no studies have attempted this specifically in OHNS ORs, certain noise-reducing interventions in healthcare settings have been described that may be transferrable to OHNS. For example, Engelmann et al. demonstrated behavior modification and a noise reduction intervention program reduces pediatric OR sound intensity by 50%. Additionally, these interventions significantly lowered postoperative complications [50]. Similarly, Hogan and Harvey used personnel-specific education for OR staff members and significantly reduced noise in the OR [51]. Cabrera and Lee suggest that hospital systems implement a Department of Sound to continuously asses and evaluate noise in the hospital and search for institution-specific ways to remedy such noise [52]. From an environment engineering perspective, West et al. successfully employed sound absorptive panels into the OR to reduce noise whilst maintaining speech intelligibility and operating sterility [53]. In non-surgical noisy environments such as aviation and the military, wireless in-ear devices are used to improve communication. The concept of a similar wireless in-ear modality for the OR has been recently described by Levin and Lee in hopes to alleviate noise contributing to miscommunication [54]. Hence, available strategies to reduce noise in the OR do exist. With the data from this review, it is clear that OHNS ORs could greatly benefit from noise reduction through both the aforementioned strategies as well as continued future OR innovation.

Conclusion

This review demonstrated that OHNS ORs are exposed to high noise levels. Such noise may have detrimental consequences to patient outcomes by impairing communication and performance amongst OR team members. Furthermore, operating theatre staff may be at risk of NIHL with repeated exposures to high noise levels. This review demonstrates that noise within the OHNS OR exceeds current safety levels set by the WHO and EPA. Most of the included studies involved mastoid surgery, which involves the use of loud drilling instruments. Further research should aim to understand how noise in OHNS ORs affect team communication and surgical outcomes. Importantly, strategies to mitigate noise pollution in OHNS ORs should be explored and implemented.