OR Air Setbacks May Not Affect Outcomes

Findings suggest lower ventilation during idle periods may reduce energy use without worsening outcomes.

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Reducing operating room ventilation during unoccupied periods does not negatively impact postoperative outcomes.
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A study of 127,878 surgical cases showed lower rates of surgical site infections after implementing air change setbacks.
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Air change setbacks resulted in significant energy savings, reducing annual electricity consumption by approximately 1.35 million kWh.
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The intervention did not lead to differences in surgical site infections, ICU admissions, or 30-day mortality after adjustments.
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The study's findings may not be generalizable due to its observational, single-center design and potential residual confounding.

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