QUALITY-CONTROL OF ANESTHESIA MACHINES AF TER MAINTENANCE PROCEDURE

Objective: To assess the value of quality control tests after routine maintenance procedures of anaesthesia machines. Study design: Prospect ive laboratory study. Material and methods: Over a 4-year-period, anae sthesia machines were checked after regular maintenance procedures, in order to detect unrecognized dysfunctions before clinical use. Result s: Overall 106 tests were performed on 14 machines and five dysfunctio ns were identified. Three of them concerned gas proportioning devices, which delivered a hypoxic gas mixture (FO2 < 15%). This defect was re cognized by gas analysis at their outlet, whereas mechanical controls were satisfactory. The last two concerned pressure relief valve linear ity and gas leak at PEEP valve. Conclusions: This study underlines the necessity of both postmaintenance controls and gas analysis at the ou tlet of the gas proportioning device. These controls should be perform ed by hospital technicians, independent from those involved in regular maintenance procedures.