Exam 1 Flashcards
What is the purpose of the fail-safe valve? What triggers the fail-safe valve on the anesthesia machine?
To ensure that whenever oxygen pressure is reduced and until flow ceases the set oxygen concentration will not decrease in the common gas outlet. The loss of oxygen pressure triggers the high-priority alarm audible and visible (around 30 psi)
Can a hypoxic mixture be delivered from the anesthesia machine with an intact fail-safe valve? Explain.
Yes as long as there is pressure in the oxygen line nothing in the fail-safe system prevents you from turning on a mixture of 100% nitrous oxide.
Someone could have mixed up the tanks that supply the hospital lines
How are oxygen, nitrous oxide, and air gases that are used in anesthesia typically delivered to the anesthesia machine? At what pressure must these gases be delivered for proper function of the anesthesia machine?
Typically delivered via pipeline system or gas cylinders. Oxygen at 45 psi, nitrous oxide at 45 psi
How is the delivery of erroneous gases to the anesthesia machine minimized?
Diameter Index Safety System (DISS). Safety system on pipeline systems to prevent improper connection of supply hoses. (does not prevent hypoxic gas mixture to patient)
What is the purpose of the cylinders of oxygen and nitrous oxide that are found on the back of the anesthesia machine?
In case of a pipeline failure
How is an erroneous hookup of a gas cylinder to the anesthesia machine minimized?
Pin index safety system PISS
What are the PISS numbers for Oxygen?
2,5
What are the PISS numbers for Nitrous?
3,5
How many liters are in a full oxygen tank?
660 L
What is the PSI of a full oxygen tank?
1900 psi
How many liters are in a full nitrous tank?
1590 L
What is the PSI of a full nitrous tank?
745 psi
How is the pressure of oxygen related to the volume of oxygen in an oxygen gas cylinder?
Pressure drops as oxygen volume drops
How is the pressure of nitrous oxide related to the volume of nitrous oxide in a nitrous oxide gas cylinder?
Pressure is 745 psig until about 400 L remaining, nitrous oxide is a liquified gas so pressure depends on the liquid’s vapor pressure and does not indicate the amount of gas remaining ONCE PRESSURE DROPS UNDER 745 psi REPLACE THE TANK
Why does atmospheric water vapor accumulate as frost on the outside surface of oxygen tanks and nitrous oxide tanks in use?
The can gets cold when sudden release of gas as pressure decreases. It tries to gain energy back from the environment to heat back up. Potential to cause frostbite. (more likely to occur in humid locations) Joule Thomson Effect
What is the purpose of flowmeters on an anesthesia machine?
To show the flow rate of gas being administered; precisely controls and measures gas flow to common gas outlet
Are flowmeters for various gases interchangeable?
No. specifically designed and calibrated for each gas
Why is the oxygen flowmeter the last flowmeter in a series on the anesthesia machine with respect to the direction in which the gas flows?
To prevent a hypoxic mixture, oxygen is the last gas to leave the machine and is closest to the common gas outlet. All gasses flow to the right; oxygen is furthest on the right.
What is the purpose of the oxygen flush valve?
A straight shot of oxygen from the common gas outlet bypassing vaporizers and flowmeters
What is the flow of oxygen delivered to the patient when the oxygen flush valve is depressed?
35 – 75 L/min
What is the risk of activating the oxygen flush valve during a mechanically delivered inspiration?
Barotrauma/ pneumothorax
Why do volatile anesthetics require placement in a vaporizer for their inhaled delivery to patients via the anesthesia machine?
To convert them from liquid to vapor.
What is the heat of vaporization?
The number of calories required at a specific temperature to convert 1 Gram of liquid to a vapor
What influence does temperature have on vapor pressure?
As temperature increases, more molecules enter vapor phase and vapor pressure increases