The Ultimate Anesthesia Machine Checklist

Since the 1970s, the average mortality rate from anesthetic-based procedures has dramatically reduced from 1 in every 10,000 patients to 1 in every 200,000 patients, and that number decreases every day.

Today’s advancements in anesthesiology medicine have led to the safest forms of patient care. But it’s directly through the strict policies surrounding your anesthesia machine and equipment that keep the rate of medical error so low. Your machinery has a higher chance of developing damage and defects if you’re missing parts or not using your unit properly.

Using an anesthesia machine checklist to set up your machine and perform routine maintenance saves you money and time and ensures that your patients always receive the best treatment.

Take a look at the main components every anesthesia needs and the best practices to sustain optimal performance.

Anesthesia Machine Checklist

There are various types of anesthesia machines available for the use of patient care. Does your practice have a portable anesthesia machine? Perhaps you need one more advanced.

Regardless of the type of unit, each anesthesia machine must come with the basic anatomy that will allow it to deliver oxygen and anesthetic gases while removing carbon dioxide from the breathing system. The essential equipment needed is as follows:

• Connection to the oxygen supply, medical air, and nitrous oxide from a pipeline or gas cylinders
• Pin index safety system yoke with Bodok seal: Supports the cylinder (if required)
• Hosepipe with Schrader probes and a noninterchangeable screw thread: To connect to the pipeline (if required)
• Pressure gauges: To determine the levels of gas in kPa measurement
• Check valve: To prevent gas backflow
• Oxygen failure alarm: To signal when oxygen pressures or levels fall below the machine-specific threshold
• Nitrous oxide hypoxic guard: Works about the levels of oxygen (once oxygen levels drop, the nitrous oxide is then shut off to prevent a hypoxic gas mix)
• Flowmeters: To measure the rate of gas flow as it passes through (this includes the flow control valves, tapered tubing, and bobbin for accuracy)
• Flow control valves: To adjust the flow rate of gas
• Vaporizer: Holds the anesthetic agents in liquid form to be vaporized and picked up by the flowing gas
• The back bar: Supports the vaporizer and connects it to the anesthesia machine
• Common gas outlet: Connects the anesthetic circuit for delivery to the patient
• High-flow oxygen flush system: To disperse emergency oxygen quickly
• A scavenging system: To safely remove the waste of anesthetic agents

Modern Tech in Anesthesia Equipment

Through the modernization of their system upgrades, some equipment that once required manual manipulation was swapped with newer tools that fulfill their purpose automatically. You can see this specifically in tools like the new vaporizers available on the market.

There was a need to streamline and consolidate the surgical equipment necessary to monitor the patient’s vitals while simultaneously controlling the anesthesia output. The newer anesthesia machines solve this dilemma and incorporate systems for monitoring a patient’s blood pressure, heart rate, ECG, and temperature, with an option for additional add-ons.

Components of an Anesthesia Workstation

Coinciding with the anatomy of the machine, the components of an anesthesia workstation are just as important when performing anesthetic-based procedures. Often combined onto an anesthesia cart, it’s necessary to have the following instruments and equipment on hand:

• Anesthesia machine unit
• Additional anesthetic vaporizers
• Oxygen masks
• Nasal oxygen set
• Endoscope
• Laryngoscope
• Endotracheal tube
• Additional HEPA filters
• Spinal Needles
• Syringes
• Hypodermic needles
• Tuohy needle
• Epidural catheter
• Bag valve mask
• Mucus sucker
• TOF Monitor
• Eschmann stylet

Pre-Anesthesia Checklist

A recent study showed that out of 9,806 fault claims, 85% of them involved anesthetic errors by the provider, and 35% were ruled to have been preventable through the use of proper pre-anesthesia machine checks. These preoperative checks, which should be performed within 48 hours before surgery, reduce these fault chances.

When checking your anesthesia equipment, remember the following steps:

1. Check the oxygen cylinders
2. Check that the self-inflating manual ventilation devices are ready and functioning properly
3. Check to ensure that patient suction can clear airways properly
4. Power up the anesthesia delivery system and confirm AC power
5. Check alarms
6. Check monitors
7. Confirm the pressure on any spare oxygen cylinders
8. Confirm piped gas pressures
9. Check to ensure vaporizers are filled and filler ports are closed
10. Inspect gas lines, flowmeters, and common gas outlets, and verify that there are no possibilities for leaks
11. Check scavenger system
12. Ensure system for carbon dioxide absorption
13. Test breathing system pressures
14. Check the breathing system for leaks
15. Verify inspiration and exhalation systems function properly
16. Fill out the checklist form for completion
17. Re-confirm ventilator settings before every use

Newer machines may have automatic self-checking features that allow them to run diagnostics of potential defects. They will require users to check aspects themselves, and what requires checking varies with each model.

If you’re unsure of your machine’s requirements, be sure to seek out a professional anesthesia machine service team.

An Anesthesia Machine Checklist Made Simple

When you invest in the best anesthesia equipment, you’re providing your patients with the utmost quality care. Utilizing this anesthesia machine checklist not only guarantees that your machine meets the standards of operative performance but also guarantees its longevity.

Whether you’re looking for a new anesthesia machine, replacing parts, or maintenance assistance, Heartland Medical Sales and Services offers everything you need to perform your patient procedures. We’ll even help you shop and navigate the different anesthesia machines to find one that’ll fit your practice.

Author: NodriMeditech

Nodri Meditech Sales and Services is a trusted distributor of new and refurbished hospital equipment and medical devices. We specialize in operating and recovery room equipment sales, rentals, maintenance, support, and service.