[Occupational exposure to inhalation anaesthetics in operating rooms in Poland. A survey].

Background: The occupational exposure to inhalation anaesthetics in operating rooms, and its effect on hospital staff, have been widely discussed. The first national survey, published in Poland several years ago, revealed worrying levels of contamination, especially in hospitals with poorly equipped operating rooms. The purpose of this recent survey was to assess contamination of the operating room air under various conditions.

[The doctor-patient relationship in intensive therapy].

The doctor-patient and doctor-patient's family relationships require skills of interpersonal communication, which is particularly important in intensive therapy. Unfortunately, such skills are not routinely taught and inadequacies are enormous. Communication skills are essential for decision-making and outcomes of therapy.

Genotoxicity of inhalation anaesthetics: DNA lesions generated by sevoflurane in vitro and in vivo.

A moderate genotoxic activity of halothane and isoflurane applied as volatile anaesthetics has already been shown. The aim of this work was to estimate a potential genotoxicity of sevoflurane, introduced to clinical practice later than halothane and isoflurane. A genotoxic activity of all three compounds was estimated by using the comet assay in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) proliferating in vitro.