Oxygen concentrators and circle systems?

RE: Oxygen concentrators and circle systems?

Laura Parker — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 21:54:55 GMT

Further to what Susanna has said you should contact General Anaesthesia Services Ltd. (GAS) in regards to your concentrator if you have any concerns. Most of the newer concentrators available are usually 5-10l/min. GAS can supply concs and they service all anaesthetic machines and equipment and are a wealth of knowledge. O2 concs are a great way for practices to cut down on costs but I always advise using monitoring where possible. A monitor with full gas analysis can be very pricey and your practice may not have the budget but you can purchase a O2 cell that can sit in your system and monitor the O2 concentration.

Laura

RE: Oxygen concentrators and circle systems?

Susanna Taylor — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 13:15:50 GMT

Different models, different ages, and service history will all effect the ability of the concentrator at high flow. That is why it is best not to assume that a o2 conc is fine for high flows. You can test it with an oxygen analyser (quite a useful bot of kit, especially if you use 'o2 cages') or get an engineer to check it regularly for you.

To be honest tho, in most situations, less then 100% o2 is fine for anaesthesia, its just a matter of knowing what mixture you have instead! With a o2 concentrator you cant know with out a o2 analyser.

With regards to flushing the circle system, remember if you use the o2 flush, you are diluting your anaesthetic agent - this may or may not be beneficial depending on the situation. It is also worth mentioning you should never use the o2 flush when attached to a patient, a circle system is less scary then a NRB, but 120L a minute is really ideal!

Hope helps

RE: Oxygen concentrators and circle systems?

Karen Carver — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 09:16:06 GMT

Burtons can convert your anaesthetic machine so the emergency flush is connected to your emergency back up O2. So quickly fills resevoir bag but your anaesthetic only runs off the concentrator, unless you press the O2 flush.

RE: Oxygen concentrators and circle systems?

Courtney Scales — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 17:13:03 GMT

Hi Gemma,

I don't really think there is much of a problem using them for circle systems at all as you run a much lower FGF anyway with these anaesthesia's anyway.

It takes longer to fill a bag to flush or fill the system, but I have never had a problem.

RE: Oxygen concentrators and circle systems?

maylane — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 22:52:42 GMT

We use oxygen concentrators with circle circuits without any problems. We did recently have a problem with one of the oxygen concentrators but we use Datex S5 multi parameters which monitor inspired and end tidal O2, so we can see if we are not delivering enough %O2 and switch to cylinders if necessary.

RE: Oxygen concentrators and circle systems?

Gemma Halse — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 07:52:06 GMT

agree they are not great for either of those !! Thanks

RE: Oxygen concentrators and circle systems?

Selena Carnell — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 19:00:48 GMT

im not a fan of oxygen concentrators, they are useless for quickly flushing o2 or high flow rates quickly. never had issues using a circle with them though.