The frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency and the neurologic complications caused by N2O exposure in operating room among the staff of Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Isfahan in 2017-2018

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of vitamin B12 among personnel working in the operating room of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Isfahan.

This study was conducted on 51 personnels of Shahid Beheshti Hospital operating room. First, demographic information of the participants was obtained. Then blood samples were acquired for determining the level of vitamin B12 and subsequently, a neurologist examined the health status of the participants’ nervous system.

Low levels of vitamin B12 were reported in 25 participants, and 26 participants had normal levels of vitamin B12. The participants were divided into two groups: vitamin B12 deficiency group and normal vitamin B12 group. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding age, work experience, working hours per day, working days per week and neurological examinations (P > 0.05). Anesthesiology technicians were at a higher risk for vitamin B12 deficiency compared to the surgical technologists, nurses and practical nurses (P < 0.001). In all occupations, the results showing normal examinations were more than impaired examinations, but these differences were not significant (P > 0.05).

Vitamin B12 deficiency is observed in a significant proportion of individuals in the study, and anesthesiology technicians have lower levels of vitamin B12 than other operating room personnel. There was no significant association between reduced vitamin B12 levels and neurologic complications in this study.