Breathing systems
Breathing systems must fulfil three objectives: 1. delivery of oxygen 2. removal of carbon dioxide from the patient 3. delivery of inhaled anaesthetic agents. These agents are predominantly eliminated by…
Pollution in theatre and scavenging
Since the late 1960s there has been speculation that trace anaesthetic gases/vapours may have a harmful effect on operating theatre personnel. It has been concluded from currently available studies that…
The anaesthetic machine
The anaesthetic machine receives medical gases (oxygen, nitrous oxide, air) under pressure and provides a continuous and accurate flow of each gas individually. A gas mixture of the desired composition…
Medical gas supply
Gas supply Medical gas supply takes the form of either cylinders or a piped gas system, depending on the requirements of the hospital. Cylinders Components 1. Cylinders are made of…
Cardiac Anesthesia Events
Cardiac Laceration Definition A cardiac laceration is an inadvertent incision into the right atrium, right ventricle, great vessels, or vein graft(s) during sternotomy or resulting from other traumatic injury Etiology…
Pulmonary Events
Airway Burn Definition Airway burn is thermal or chemical injury to the mucosa of the airway between the mouth and the alveoli. Etiology Inhalation of hot gases From breathing circuit…
Cardiovascular Events
Acute Coronary Syndrome Definition Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is an acute imbalance between myocardial O 2 supply and demand that leads to ischemia and infarction. ACS is classified as being…
Obstetric Events
Amniotic Fluid Embolism (Anaphylactoid Syndrome of Pregnancy) Definition Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is thought to be an abnormal maternal immune response to fetal antigens when the maternal-fetal immunological barrier is…
Pediatric Events
Acute Hemorrhage in the Pediatric Patient Definition Acute hemorrhage in the pediatric patient is the acute loss of a large volume of blood and can be either overt or covert….
Cardiac Anesthesia Events
Cardiac Laceration Definition A cardiac laceration is an inadvertent incision into the right atrium, right ventricle, great vessels, or vein graft(s) during sternotomy or resulting from other traumatic injury Etiology…
