We wanted to provide training in the use of drawover techniques and apparatus at an Australian teaching hospital. Equipment based on the Diamedica vaporiser was selected as it is suitable for use with sevoflurane. A lack of standards specific to drawover equipment from either anaesthetic professional bodies or national standards authorities hinders introduction of such equipment to Australian hospitals. Two systems were purchased, the Diamedica Portable Anaesthesia System and a Glostavent anaesthetic machine. Changes made to the equipment to increase its safety and to comply with Australian standards are described.
BrookP.N., PerndtH.Sevoflurane drawover anaesthesia with two Oxford Miniature Vaporizers in series.Anaesth Intensive Care2001; 29: 616–618.
2.
LiuE.H., DharaS.S.Sevoflurane output from the Oxford Miniature Vaporizer in drawover mode.Anaesth Intensive Care2000; 28: 532–536.
3.
BaileyT.M., WebsterS., TullyR., EltringhamR., BourdeauxC.An assessment of the efficiency of the Glostavent ventilator.Anaesthesia2009; 64: 899–902.
4.
International Organization for Standardization Standard TC 121– Anaesthetic and respiratory equipment ISO/TS 18835: 2004 Inhalational anaesthesia systems – Draw-over vaporizers and associated equipment. From http://www.iso.org/iso/home.html Accessed March 2011.
Australian and New Zealand Standards AS/NZS3200.2.13: 2005 Medical electrical equipment – Particular requirements for safety – Anaesthetic systems. From http://www.standards.org.au/Home.aspx Accessed March 2011.
