The Operating Room Environment Flashcards
What is a key element in establishing a culture of safety in theatre?
Checklists
What are the medical gasses most commonly used in the operating room?
Oxygen Air Nitrous oxide Nitrogen (Also vacuum exhaust, surgical suction and carbon dioxide)
How is 99% pure medical oxygen manufactured?
Fractional distillation of liquefied air.
In what form is oxygen stored?
As a compressed gas at room temperature or refrigerated as a liquid.
Below what temperature must liquid oxygen be stored?
Below its critical temperature of 119 C.
What is the E-cylinder capacity for oxygen?
625-700 L
What safety systems do medical gas cylinders utilise?
- Pin index safety system to prevent incorrect connections.
2. A wood’s metal plug with a low melting point to allow dissipation of pressure in case of a fire or overfilling.
Why can nitrous oxide be stored as a liquid in cylinders at room temperature?
Because the critical temperature of nitrous oxide is 36.5 degrees (more than room temperature). Above its critical temperature a substance con only exist as a gas.
What are the international colours of medical gas cylinders?
Oxygen - white
Air - white and black
Nitrous oxide - blue
Nitrogen - black
How do you determine how much nitrous oxide is left in a cylinder?
By weighing. The pressure will remain constant since most it is in liquid form. Once the pressure starts to drop there is very little nitrous oxide left.
What is the ideal operating room temperature?
20-24 degrees.
What is the recommended ventilation level for an operating room?
20 air volume exchanges per hour to decrease the risk of stagnation and bacterial growth.
What is does ALARP stand for?
“as low as reasonably practical” - with reference to radiation exposure.
