selves faster. For
example, some facil-
ities might spend
$200,000 a year on
one type of anesthet-
ic vapor. If you can
save that much by
dramatically reduc-
ing flows, the
machine pays for
itself.
One new highly
efficient machine is engineered to flow gas when patients are inspir-
ing, and shut it off when they're exhaling. Since the ratio of inspira-
tion to exhalation is typically 1 to 2, that can theoretically reduce
fresh gas flow by 67% — a strong selling point. The ability to save on
gas flows by recirculating analyzed gas is another feature you might
want to look for.
6. Is the machine going to stay where it's planted or be moved around?
Bolting the machine to the wall, as seen on Naval hospital ships, is the
cleanest arrangement I've seen. The exposed gas hoses can be few or
non-existent, or at least kept off the floor. But you may have surgeons
who insist on moving things around. So the machine gets dragged
over to the other wall. Or you may have to drag your machine to
"safari" locations — dentistry one day, a cath lab the next and ECT
the next. If so, you want a machine with a low center of gravity and
nice wheels, so it rolls down the hallway easily and won't tip over. It
also needs to be small enough that it can be handled by people who
aren't big enough or strong enough to drag a 400-pound behemoth.
1 6 1
O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5 | O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T
z FASTER ROI If you spend a significant amount of
money on anesthetic vapor, more advanced machines
can pay for themselves by allowing low fresh-gas flow.
Kathy
Crysel,
CRNA
