[Quality control of anesthesia equipment after maintenance procedure].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the value of quality control tests after routine maintenance procedures of anaesthesia machines.

STUDY

DESIGN

Prospective laboratory study.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Over a 4-year-period, anaesthesia machines were checked after regular maintenance procedures, in order to detect unrecognized dysfunctions before clinical use.

RESULTS

Overall 106 tests were performed on 14 machines and five dysfunctions were identified. Three of them concerned gas proportioning devices, which delivered a hypoxic gas mixture (FO2 < 15%). This defect was recognized by gas analysis at their outlet, whereas mechanical controls were satisfactory. The last two concerned pressure relief valve linearity and gas leak at PEEP valve.

CONCLUSIONS

This study underlines the necessity of both postmaintenance controls and gas analysis at the outlet of the gas proportioning device. These controls should be performed by hospital technicians, independent from those involved in regular maintenance procedures.