Workplace Safety Flashcards
What are sources of waste inhalant anesthetic gas?
exhaled by patient or escaped from anesthetic machine during anesthetic period. Inhaled when emptying or filling anesthetic vaporizers. Inhaled after an accidental anesthetic liquid spill
In what unit of measure do you measure waste anesthetic gas?
parts per million (ppm)
What are some long term effects of high level exposure to waste anesthetic gas?
REPRODUCTIVE (risk of spontanous abortion, infertility, congenital anomilies in children), ONCONGENIC (none of the commonly used agents are associated with an increased risk of developing cancer), HEPATIC(hepatotoxicity), RENAL (renal toxicity), NEUROLOGIC (possible loss of motor skills and short term memory and incresed incidence of neurological disease), HEMATOLOGIC bone marrow abnormalities)
How do you reducing exposure to waste anesthetic gas?
Use a scavenging system, check for equipment leaks
What are some potential difficulties with a scavenging system?
prevent the negative (vaccum) pressure on the breathing circuit, obstuctions may block wate gas from entering the scavenging system
What can be used in replace of a scavenging system?
activated charcoal cartridges or masks with charcoal filters
How do you know when to replace the activated charcoal cartridge?
Every 12 hours or when weight incerases by 50 grams
When do you do high pressure leak tests?
nitrous oxide tank weekly or when tank is changed
When do you do low pressure leak tests
prior to machine use each day
What could an accidental eye splash of chclohexamines (ketamine, tiletamine) cause?
disorientation, excitment, dizziness, or unconsciousness
What could an accidental injection or skin contact of alpha 2 agonists (xylazine, detomidine, medotimidine, dexmedetomidine) cause?
sedation, hypotension, bradycardia, respiratory depression, coma
