August 24, 2016
The current recommended U.K exposure levels for nitrous oxide are 100 ppm (parts per million) over an 8-hour TWA (Time Weighted Average).
Suggested methods for complying with this exposure level are:
Use of an efficient Active Scavenger Breathing System (scavenging at the nasal mask; air flow rate 45 L/min)
12-15 Room air changes per hour (or other form of ventilation such as a low level expelair fan)
Staff rotation.
Below is an ‘overview’ of the most widely used types of Dental breathing systems manufactured by two American Companies; Porter Instruments & Accutron:
Modern Dental Scavenger Breathing Systems are divided into two distinct types –
Active and Passive (although the latter type is now obsolete, a definition is included for teaching and historical purposes).
Passive Systems –original type manufactured by Matrx – consisted of 22mm clear corrugated hoses w/one way valve – gas passed from fresh gas outlet (22mm) along tubing to nasal hood on patients face with a blanking cap to prevent escape of waste gases (the nasal hood could either be blue (originally grey) autoclavable or Dynomite scented single use), then, as the patient exhaled, a valve opened in the expiratory hose and the expired air was forced out, by the patients normal expiratory effort, into the further length of tubing. Commonly, this tubing was then either ‘hung’ out of the window, or connected to a low level wall exit vent block. In more recent times, these systems were also connected to a wall mounted AGS (Anaesthetic Gas Scavenging) System such as a MEC Purair 130 or Dental 2000. These units needed to be mounted no higher than one metre above floor level to have any efficacy. The transfer hose from the patient needing to be level or slope downwards, thus assisting the flow of waste gases, nitrous oxide in particular, being heavier than air. In cases where the receiver was mounted high up on the surgery wall then ‘back-flooding’ of gases could occur resulting in ambient pollution.
Comment: This system has been around for approximately 40+ years and is not efficient, with a potential for large amounts of waste gas leakage and resulting ambient surgery pollution. Historical note: In January 2009, Porter Instruments announced they had purchased the Matrx Nitrous Oxide Division from Midmark. All manufacturing was transferred to the Porter factory in Hatfield, Philadelphia. In January 2010, Porter announced that they were discontinuing the Passive breathing system – with immediate effect. This system is now obsolete and no parts are available.
Active Systems – More choice exists here – the two manufacturers each producing versions of active systems. Note: Active Dental Scavenger Breathing Systems require an active draw of 45 l/min at the nasal hood to operate efficiently
The various types are:
Porter: this is a ‘double mask’ system and proven to be the most efficient. (Ref 1) It consists of a corrugated hose connected to fresh gas outlet (22mm) passing via coaxial hose to the inner liner. As the patient breathes out, a flapper valve opens in the inner liner and the gas passes to the outer hood, where it is collected and passed down the second set of coaxial tubes to a vacuum hose. In addition, due to the gap between inner liner and outer hood, pollution caused by mouth breathing or speaking can be lessened, as a percentage of the waste gases are ‘sucked’ back into the hood and exhausted via the vacuum hose. There is an adjustable vacuum control block on the end of this hose (please note: this block is designed to operate in the vertical position – not horizontal), which allows the air flow rate to be adjusted to 45 L/min. This unit is autoclavable and latex free. The system is designed to be either connected to a HVE Port on central suction; AGSS wall outlet (special probe/adapter required), or Miniscav unit.
Comment: Most efficient system currently available on U.K. market and widely used.
Matrx: ANS (Autoclavable Nitrous Scavenger) – introduced by Matrx to address the infection control issue and replaced the earlier active system with reinforced spiral hosing. Has smooth white tubing (attracts dirt easily) and a collector cap over the nasal hood (can be noisy). Again a single tube from fresh gas outlet (22mm) to nasal hood (blue autoclavable or single use scented) then gas is collected via a ‘mushroom cap’ with valving that directs it to a further length of vacuum hose – designed to connect to central suction. Manufacture continues as part of the Porter range.
Comment: This system replaced the older Matrx active system due to the problem of infection control. Unfortunately, has not proved popular in the UK even though it has been modified to better ‘balance’ the nasal hood and collector cap arrangement. Problems with the use of conventional ‘single’ nasal mask – inefficient, leakage around nasal area etc.
Accutron: This system has a grey corrugated hose from fresh gas outlet (22mm) to white coaxial tubing. Fresh gas passes up to the nasal hood (grey multi use or scented single use – now available in single and double (Clearview)), and exhaled gases are collected via a clear collecting cap (can be noisy) and passes down distal set of coaxial tubes to a vacuum line designed to connect to central suction. This system also has a vacuum control block that can be adjusted.
Comment: Good system to use if you want to utilise scented nasal hoods. However, historically there have been some problems with the multi use hoods and collector cap material warping after autoclaving at British autoclave temperatures. The manufacturers, Accutron, appear to have corrected this fault. Similar leakage problems as above, with use of single nasal mask type.
Definition of Active/Passive Scavenging
“A Scavenging system, simply defined, is a means to collect and remove excess gases to prevent them from being vented back into the operating room. Installation of an efficient scavenging system is the most important step in reducing trace gas concentrations. It has been demonstrated that ambient concentrations have been lowered by 90 percent through the use of an efficient system”. (Ref 2)
The problem of connecting an Active scavenger breathing system to an ‘active’ vacuum source continues to be a matter of some confusion. The definition of Active is:
Exhaust ventilation of Nitrous Oxide from the patient’s mask should be maintained at an air flow rate of 45 L/min, measured by a calibrated flow device and vented outdoors.
This can be achieved in one of three ways;
Suitable dental vacuum system – (high volume port)
Centralised Anaesthetic Gas Scavenging System wall outlet (used with AGS Probe Adapter but no Receiver (Air break))
Miniscav unit
Receiving System Air breaks (preventing transmission of suction from the exhauster unit to the patient), sometimes called Barnsley Receivers, do not produce this vacuum and as such are considered unsuitable for use with dental active breathing systems. An example of this type of unit is the MEC Purair 130, (or MEC Dental 2000) which utilises a tubular receiver (air break). The role of the Receiving Unit is to provide a safe interface between the patient and the extraction flow rate. This is due to the original use of these systems being for g. a. circuits and was designed to protect the air flow of the unconscious patient. Centralised Anaesthetic Gas Scavenging Systems (utilising a remote pump and surgery ags terminals) may also be observed employing the use of an air break. This is commonly mounted on a bracket adjacent to the ags terminal and connected via a hose / probe assembly. Passive systems are then vented via connection to the inlet on the air break.
It is important in this case to understand the difference between the Extraction Flow Rate and the Induced Flow Rate (Ref 3). The Extraction Flow Rate operates between 130 and 80 L/min BS6834 : 1987 – (replaced by BS EN 737-2 :1998) which has an extraction flow rate of only 25 to 50 l/min)) and is to ensure that the waste gases are adequately removed from the surgery. The importance of this flow rate is that if it falls too low, it may not be sufficient for waste gas removal. This would lead to the waste gases spilling out from the base of the receiving unit reservoir into the immediate working environment.
The Induced Flow Rate, primarily for use with G A circuits, should be as low as possible, with the system ideally being passive between the patient and the receiving unit and active from the receiving unit to the exhaust point. In these cases the induced flow rate can be as low as 0.5 L/min BS6834 : 1997. (BS EN 737-2 has a maximum induced flow rate of
0.05 L/min). The value of the induced flow is the level of fresh gas flow that the receiving system is actively sucking on the patient circuit. This is where an element of confusion arises. As the Purair 130 and 2000 are termed an Active system, users are under the impression this makes the dental breathing system ‘active’. This is not the case. Currently, the only dental breathing system suitable for connection to a Purair 130 or the 2000D is the Matrx Passive type – and this is now a obsolete system. As explained above, the induced flow rate on the breathing system is minimal (0.5 l/min or 0.05 l/min), the main effort to drive the gases along the scavenging hose being through normal patient respiratory effort. Only once the gases reach the terminal outlet, does the extraction flow rate take over.
All the Active systems have been designed by the Manufacturer (s) to be connected to a dental vacuum system – capable of generating enough flow to operate at the recommended 45 l/min. This usually means occupying the high volume suction port and as most dental surgeries currently only have one high volume port, this is consequently not popular. (Some chair manufacturers, for example, ADEC, now provide a dual HVE option, with certain models, which addresses the issue.) The other main criteria is that the system is expired outside the surgery and building. It is not recommended that Tridac (Aspirade) models be used due to exhausted gases being exposed to motor arking.
If for some reason it is not suitable to utilise the dental vacuum system, the alternatives are:-
Connection to a centralised AGSS wall outlet (via a special probe adapter – please note: These AGS/Probe adaptors are designed to locate directly into the AGS outlet and do not require an air break (Barnsley Receiver) in circuit. They must be used with an Active Dental Breathing System which is capable of being adjusted to a flow rate of 45 l/min by a suitable flow limiter (vacuum control block) integral to the system.
Connection to a Miniscav Active Scavenger unit – requiring an electrical socket and an external exit vent (15mm). The vent should have a downturn on the outside with an insect filter. Again, must be used with an Active Dental Breathing System.
Excerpt from HTM02-01 (Ref 4)
Chapter 10 – Anaesthetic Gas Scavenging Disposal Systems
10.5: Active Scavenging for dental installation is an entirely different concept.
An active system is one in which there is a flow generated through the patient’s nasal mask and this carries away the waste gases exhaled by the patient. This flow is in the order of 45 L/min and is achieved by connection of the mask (via a suitable flow-limiting adaptor) to either; a dental vacuum system or directly to an active scavenging system
(BS/EN) wall terminal.
Appendix L – Important notes for use of medical vacuum and anaesthetic gas scavenging. Sections 8, 9 and 10 refer to Active Dental Scavenging Systems.
Ref 1: ‘Clinical evaluation of the efficacy of three nitrous oxide scavenging units during dental treatment’ Certismo, Walton, Hartzell, Farris
General Dentistry September-October 2002.
Ref 2: NIOSH Technical Report: Control of Nitrous Oxide in Dental Operatories
Ref 3: BS 6834 : 1987 / BS EN 737-2 : 1998
Ref 4: Medical Gases Health Technical Memorandum 02-01: Medical gas pipeline systems. Part A: Design, installation, validation and verification. 2006.
Mrs J E Pickles Rev 7:11/13
Tel: 0044 (0) 1535 652444 info@ramedical.com