Oxygen alarm during GA, what is your protocol?

Re: Oxygen alarm during GA, what is your protocol?

Heather Bacon — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 22:16:51 GMT

I am at college and we are not taught this. At my practice we have an emergency supply, so if the alarm sounds on the regular O2 canister then we just switch on the smaller emergency canister. If this had also run out then we still have a few minutes supply before it empties, we keep an eye on the flow rate and call for the floating nurse to replace the canisters whilst the patient is still connected. Ideally if we had changed to the emergency canister, the regular canister would also be replaced at the same time.

Re: Oxygen alarm during GA, what is your protocol?

Ilovethebug — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 21:07:54 GMT

I qualified last year and this was definitely not taught in college or by practice and I don't teach my student nurse the same

Re: Oxygen alarm during GA, what is your protocol?

Sal the 1st — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 18:49:55 GMT

was pretty much what I meant - and as an oldie I would like to know just what is right and what is wrong these days

Re: Oxygen alarm during GA, what is your protocol?

Celine — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 15:01:55 GMT

I think the other question is, what do we mean by "taught"? Does the OP mean they were categorically taught this in a formal learning situation or is it one of those things that your old Head Nurse or first boss taught you to do...... I've been "taught" many things in my time, including drawing up the metacam and the antibiotic in the same syringe to save the animal an extra jab..... I'm not having a go at anyone by the way, just that sometimes some of us oldies might need to rethink why we do certain things and is there EVIDENCE behind it.... my new favourite high horse!

Re: Oxygen alarm during GA, what is your protocol?

Sal the 1st — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 14:26:25 GMT

I have been thinking about this - what the OP has been taught is this genuinely what is being taught now or is this a mis interpretation of what has been taught? Or is it somebody's interpretation of what should be done? I have made my comment based on what I was taught but am now wondering if things could have changed that much?

Re: Oxygen alarm during GA, what is your protocol?

Selena Carnell — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 22:19:46 GMT

as above, don't disconnect unless flow rate drops. our oO2 was piped from large cylinders outside so we usually had to yell for a float nurse to dash out and change cylinders. disconnecting runs the risk of them waking mid op, especially if using sevo.

Re: Oxygen alarm during GA, what is your protocol?

FINNIGAN — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 18:15:16 GMT

I agree with above u have 5 mins worth left , so enough time to sort!

Re: Oxygen alarm during GA, what is your protocol?

Sal the 1st — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 23:18:46 GMT

[quote user="Ilovethebug"] I would leave and ask another member of staff to help you. As long as your oxygen flow rate is sufficient until the cylinder is changed you should be fine to stay on and monitor your GA and ask someone for a hand

[/quote]

I agree - if you disconnect from circuit and your patient is undergoing surgery then it will not be receiving any gaseous anaesthetic ie it will be on its way to waking up unless you plan to do something else to make sure it stays asleep.

Re: Oxygen alarm during GA, what is your protocol?

jane Lewis — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 23:02:22 GMT

We leave the patient connected and monitor the oxygen flow meter for dipping whilst it's changed. Would disconnect/turn off if it starts to drop but the reserve oxygen normally gives us enough time to change the bottle. Without needing to do this. Guess everywhere has different procedures and probably depends on your exact equipment. We use sevo and have piped O2 from large canisters outside so get a good 5mins reserve O2 when it needs changing. We check levels daily and put an alert on the ops board when it's low so people are more prepared for the alarm.

Re: Oxygen alarm during GA, what is your protocol?

Ilovethebug — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 20:59:13 GMT

Sorry to disagree but I would leave and ask another member of staff to help you. As long as your oxygen flow rate is sufficient until the cylinder is changed you should be fine to stay on and monitor your GA and ask someone for a hand