OR Air Setbacks May Not Affect Outcomes Findings suggest lower ventilation during idle periods may reduce energy use without worsening outcomes. By Andrea Surnit April 27, 2026 2 min Conexiant Share Summary Takeaways Listen Insight Report Clinical Scorecard Quiz Top Institutions 1 Reducing operating room ventilation during unoccupied periods does not negatively impact postoperative outcomes. 2 A study of 127,878 surgical cases showed lower rates of surgical site infections after implementing air change setbacks. 3 Air change setbacks resulted in significant energy savings, reducing annual electricity consumption by approximately 1.35 million kWh. 4 The intervention did not lead to differences in surgical site infections, ICU admissions, or 30-day mortality after adjustments. 5 The study's findings may not be generalizable due to its observational, single-center design and potential residual confounding.
