Iso vapourisor left on, oxygen off

Re: Iso vapourisor left on, oxygen off

Sarah H RVN — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 19:52:12 GMT

Seeing Sussana's post ... I've always been advised to provide 100% O2 until a patients reflexes return and begin to be responsive not necessarily until you extubate? As the regulation of breathing relies on chemical feedback of levels of 02 and c02.. I.e if the patient is being provided 100% 02 the chemoreceptors will not trigger the patient to breathe and gain enough 02 without our intervention. Therefore wouldn't providing 02 until extubation be detrimental to a fast smooth recovery? ... Back on subject I agree always turn the vaporiser off I don't see the need not to, it benefits no one

Re: Iso vapourisor left on, oxygen off

bongo — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 07:50:04 GMT

Doesn't take a sec to turn the iso dial into the off position, plain lazy.

Re: Iso vapourisor left on, oxygen off

Louise Hanley — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 14:44:40 GMT

if an emergency comes in and needs oxygen I would assume iso was off and turn on the oxygen.....I would be pissed if iso was left on...it is dangerous. Plus Iso should be turned off and the patient left on oxygen after surgery for a bit

Re: Iso vapourisor left on, oxygen off

Holly anon — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 13:07:22 GMT

like!

Re: Iso vapourisor left on, oxygen off

Susanna Taylor — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 23:22:41 GMT

For what it's worth, modern serviced varporisers shouldn't 'leak' ISO unless a flow is running through i.e the oxygen. Also ISO is completely non-flammable - was specifically introduced for that reason... Anyway, that's by the by coz as everyone else has rightly said, patients should recover until extubated on enriched oxygen gas - (100% unless you have medical air, ) as much for their own good as local personnel who should not be being exposed to high expired ISO levels! I am sure I can find you some references if you want. Also risk to next patient (although a proper machine check would prevent this ;-) ) as others said. Sounds like this girl has got into some lazy habits and is digging her heels in. Would be interesting to hear her actual reasons for doing it. Good luck sorting!

Re: Iso vapourisor left on, oxygen off

Johnathan Prior — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 22:55:27 GMT

Other factors also have to be taken in to account with the vaporiser in regards to environmental changes...heat mats, radiators, sunlight. What ever raises the temperature of the room and vaporiser can cause the agent to vaporise

I do agree with above posts as well. Patients need to be on oxygen alone during recovery as they are still breathing out the Iso while getting it out of their system.

Plus it's kinder for the next person to use it and avoids mistakes...sounds like you could have a 'someone closed the valve and next person didn't check' moment.

Re: Iso vapourisor left on, oxygen off

Selena Carnell — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 21:45:56 GMT

i checked our manual and it does say that it should be in the OFF position when not in use. potentially isoflurance will evaporate with it being left in the on position and could be a fire hazard....

Re: Iso vapourisor left on, oxygen off

Sal the 1st — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 20:33:18 GMT

[quote user="edudley"]Hi all I have a nurse who works with me and she keeps leaving the isoflurane vapourisor on after use, she just switches the oxygen off. When I point out to her not to do it she says that nothing will come out as no oxygen pushing it through. I know this, however my point is that should they com along to the next op and the patient only needs oxygen if they are deep at first and she forgets it's on then the patient could be further anaesthetised and go too deep! She seems indifferent when I told her and I wondered if anyone had any experiences with this so that I could show her the posts and she might see that it's a possibility? Any comments? Thanks

[/quote]

just thinking about this through the day - when you say that the vaporiser is left on after use do you mean that it is left on '0'?

Re: Iso vapourisor left on, oxygen off

molladog — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 13:42:31 GMT

Exactly what I was thinking................strange ?

Re: Iso vapourisor left on, oxygen off

funkyfish — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 12:50:02 GMT

Are the animals not left on just oxygen for a few mins before being taken of machine? I can't think of any reason why the vaporiser would be left on unless the animal taken straight off the machine?

Re: Iso vapourisor left on, oxygen off

The Pikachu_Collector — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 10:04:48 GMT

I agree with Sal, by showing her that the situation was discussed outside of work would only make the situation worse.

I had a similar issue at a previous practice and our practice manager sent a memo to us, and attached a copy to the anaesthetic machines to say that practice policy states that....................... and if you are in breach of said practice policy then disciplinary action would be taken. A little harsh, but hey, it worked!

Sometimes it is better when coming from a senior member of staff, such as one of the Vets or practice principle. Have you voiced your concerns to them?

Re: Iso vapourisor left on, oxygen off

Sal the 1st — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 09:28:47 GMT

I dont think showing posts will make any difference. It will only show her that a work problem has been discussed outside the workplace and is more likely to make her dig in her heels over it and less likely that she will show you any respect in the future. Are there any anaesthetic safety papers you can use rather than using comments on here to prove a point which will most likely be no more than personal opinion.