Impact of the medical clothing on the thermal stress of surgeons

The aim of the presented experiments was to determine thermal stress of surgeons performing their work with a high metabolic rate, wearing clothing characterized by high insulation and impermeability protecting them against water vapour but also in thermal conditions of a warm climate protecting patients against hypothermia. The experiments were conducted with the participation of 8 volunteers. Each subject took part in the experiment four times, i.e. in each of the four tested surgical gowns. The experiments were conducted in a climatic chamber where thermal conditions characteristic of an operating theatre were simulated. The parameters to be measured included: skin temperature, temperature measured in the auditory canal, sweat rate as well as temperature and humidity between clothing and a human body. The conducted experiments provided the grounds to conclude that medical clothing can be regarded as barrier clothing and it can influence thermal load of a human body.

► The research about impact of medical clothing on the thermal comfort of surgeons in laboratory conditions with the participation of volunteers.
► Mean-weighed skin temperature, irrespective of the clothing ensemble, above 33 °C.
► Final values for humidity in the space between a human body and clothing oscillate between 70 and 80%.
► Medical clothing can be regarded as barrier clothing.
► Medical clothing can influence on thermal load of a human body.