Heart rates of surgeons in theatre

Abstract

The heart rates often surgeons were measured during work, leisure and sleep over 4 × 24 hour periods. Oxygen consumption was measured while the surgeons were Operating; the environmental conditions in the operating theatres were monitored. In addition, each surgeon performed two multi-staged exercise tests to ascertain the oxygen-consumption/hcart-rate relationship. The findings were that oxygen consumption was rather low (0 26-0.411min⁻¹) during operations, heart rates during operating were commensurate with the oxygen consumption, and the additional factors of arm work and isometric contractions, suggesting that little of the heart rate during operating resulted from mental stress.