LECTURE ON ANAESTHETIC MACHINE WRITTEN BY CHIEF ANDERSON.

OUTLINES

1. Preamble

2. Definition

3. Brief History

4. Parts

5. Safety Devices

PREAMBLE

I good knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of Anaesthetic machine will no doubt makes you stand
out among your peers during the administration of Anaesthesia.

DEFINITION

Anaesthetic machine is a medical device use to deliver a known volume ( amount) of Anaesthetic gases
and inhalational agent to the patient.

BRIEF HISTORY

Anaesthetic machine was invented by Henry Edmond Gaskin Boyle's in the year 1917.

TYPES OF ANAESTHETIC MACHINE

1. Boyle's

2. Omeda

3. Penlon

4. Drager

5. Avance

6.Midray

7. Fancy

PARTS OF ANAESTHETIC MACHINE

1. Functional

2. Non functional
NON FUNCTIONAL PARTS

These are parts of Anaesthetic machine that do not take part in the delivery of Anaesthesia. Examples
are

1. Top shelf

2. Middle Shelf

3. Drawers

4. Antistatic Tyres and brake

FUNCTIONAL PARTS

These are parts that take part in the administration of Anaesthesia. Functional parts are classified into
main components and accessory components.

MAIN COMPONENTS

1. Gas source

2. Flowmeter Bank

3. Vaporizer

4. Breathing circuit

5. CO2 Absorbing unit

ACCESSORY COMPONENTS

1. Ventilator

2. Bellow

3. Oxygen flush

4. Oxygen failure Alarm

5. Gas Pressure gauge

6. APL Valve

7. ACGO Valve or button

8. Mechanical Ventilator/Manual Ventilation (Bagging) Switch button

9. Scavenging System
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF ANAESTHETIC MACHINE

1. GAS SOURCE

These are various sources through which Anaesthetic gases gets into the machine. They include pipeline,
cylinder (bolus) and Emergency cylinder ( Pin index)

2. FLOWMETER BANK

This is used to measure the volume (Amount) of gas being delivered to the patient. It is calibrated in
L/Min. Flowmeter consist of the flowmeter tube, knobs and bobbin, the tube is the vertical glass that
house the bobbin. The bobbin indicate the amount you are delivering at any point in time, the knobs
allows you to adjust the flow rate. Flow meter knobs are color coded.

3.VAPORIZER

The vaporizer vaporizes the volatile inhalational agent. So it can be added to a stream of carrier gas. It
deliver a known concentration of inhalational anaesthetic agent to the patient. The vaporizer consist of
the concentration control dial, filling indicator, filler cap and a lock key, it has interlocking system and
are color coded.

4. BREATHING CIRCUIT

This connects the patient to the Anaesthetic machine, in other to delivery of Anaesthetic gases and
inhalational anaesthetic agents to the patient. It consist of the corrugated tubings, facemask, reservoir
bag, APL valve, fresh and expired gas inlet and outlet, heat and moisture exchanger ( HME) connectors.
It is classified into circle absorber and Mapleson classification.

5. CARBON DIOXIDE ABSORBING UNIT

This helps to remove excess CO2 from the patient in other to avoid excessive accumulation of CO2 in the
blood (hypercapnia). The chemical agent that does this is known as sodalime. It is called sodalime
granules

NOTE

Main components of Anaesthetic machine are functional parts you can hardly do without when you are
setting out for general anesthesia.

ACCESSORY COMPONENTS OF ANAESTHETIC MACHINE

1. VENTILATOR

This is a device attached to the Anaesthetic machine that mechanically controls patient inspiration and
expiration. Important parameters displayed are tidal volume, respiratory rate, flow rate, inspiratory and
expiratory ratio (I:E).It contains buttons for adjustment of the above mentioned parameters
2. BELLOW

This work together with the ventilator to mechanically maintain patient inspiration and expiration.
Bellow does the bagging just like when you are bagging manually for the patient during manual
ventilation.

3. GAS PRESSURE GAUGE

The pressure gauge enables you to know if there is gas in the Anaesthetic machine.

4. OXYGEN FLUSH

Oxygen flush delivers a higher concentration of oxygen to the breathing circuit. It is usually used during
need for hyperventilation

5. OXYGEN FAILURE ALARM

This signals an alarm when there is shortage of oxygen( low oxygen pressure) in the Anaesthetic
machine. It enables you to know when oxygen is finishing in the machine

This helps to deliver higher concentration of oxygen to the breathing circuit. Especially during
hyperventilation and hypoxic episode.

5. ADJUSTABLE PRESSURE LIMITING VALVE( APL)

This helps to regulate pressure build up in the reservoir bag.

6. AUXILIARY COMMON GAS OUTLET BUTTON

This helps you to switch between circle absorber and mapelson circuits

7. MECHANICAL VENTILATOR/ MANUAL VENTILATION SWITCH BUTTON

This enables you to switch between mechanical ventilation and manual ventilation ( Bagging).

8. ANAESTHETIC GAS SCAVENGING SYSTEM ( AGSS)

This enables the venting of waste(expired) Anaesthetic gases from the operating room to avoid
operating room pollution.

9. POWER BUTTON ( ELECTRICAL SOURCE)

This switches ON and OFF the Anaesthetic machine.

SAFETY FEATURES OF ANAESTHETIC MACHINE

1. Pin Index

2. Diameter Index
3. Vaporizer color coding

4. Vaporizer interlocking system

5. Fluorescent background of flowmeter

6. Oxygen flowmeter knob

7. Corrugated tubings

8. Color coding of horse

9. Antistatic Tyres and brake

10. Oxygen failure Alarm

11. Oxygen Flush