anaethetic circuits cleaning protocol?

Re: anaethetic circuits cleaning protocol?

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:47:04 GMT

I am usually the one who does this at work, I use the stuff we use to clean the endoscope... and use the same protocols. I swing them about a bit in the dog run afterwards, and hang them on a drip stand in the boiler room cupboard to dry. I usually rotate the ones I clean, and always keep one of each circuit for any emergency that comes through the door!, When the others are dry, usually the following day, I then wash the ones that I have kept by. I try to do it weekly, but most definitely for any patients with confirmed infection etc they get done that day.

Re: anaethetic circuits cleaning protocol?

Nick Shackleton — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:01:44 GMT

not sure on the moisture thing........

in theory the anaesthetic tubing is disposable ie thrown away after each use and a fresh one used, in human medicine this is what is done.

Re: anaethetic circuits cleaning protocol?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:46:59 GMT

[quote user="Nick Shackleton"]

i would say weekly should be suffice, unless an infectious patient comes thru anaesthesia.

soaking in suitable disinfectant followed by rinsing with plenty of water. cue the lasso dance out in the run

and yeah hanging up in warm areas over the weekend should ensure they are dried out enough

[/quote]

Thanks Nick!!

It seems to be a balancing act between cleanliness and the moisture compromising the circuit.....

Anyone know what excess moisture in the circuit will cause? How would it affect a patient?

Obviously it's not ideal, but how much of a risk is it VS not disinfecting the circuits between patients?

Re: anaethetic circuits cleaning protocol?

Nick Shackleton — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:29:08 GMT

i would say weekly should be suffice, unless an infectious patient comes thru anaesthesia.

soaking in suitable disinfectant followed by rinsing with plenty of water. cue the lasso dance out in the run

and yeah hanging up in warm areas over the weekend should ensure they are dried out enough

Re: anaethetic circuits cleaning protocol?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:22:48 GMT

Hey Soo - I saw this thread and just knew it would be you!

I'm afraid I'm the (only?) one at work who doesn't like the soaking in trigene (If you haven't guessed Soo & I work together ) Perhaps it's just me, but even after a good ol' vigorous swing round the yard (cue vets laughing), I find that the circuits still retain significant moisture.

Silly question, but could hair dryers be a low-tech drying solution?

Is best practice to soak them daily? Would weekly do? Thinking that if we did them on a Friday, they would have the weekend to dry..???

Re: anaethetic circuits cleaning protocol?

Sue Cox — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:00:21 GMT

yeah, i hang them up and then tend to give them a bit of a swing in in the morning! have learnt to remove the APL valve first....ha, ha..

Re: anaethetic circuits cleaning protocol?

Maisy — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:29:06 GMT

You can give the tubing a careful swing outside as that will get the majority of water out before you leave them to hang overnight. Just be careful as if done with too much force (or too regularly!) it can cause cracks in the corrugated tubing.

Re: anaethetic circuits cleaning protocol?

bumble bee — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:19:32 GMT

we use miltons as has no residue or smell.We hang them afterwards to drain as much moisture out before reusing.