Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Numerous problems can occur with liquid oxygen delivery systems, in part because of the complexities of such systems. These systems must comply with guidelines of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals. During the 1978-79 year, 18 major problems with the liquid oxygen delivery system occurred at the authors' hospital. Five times, false alarms resulted from calibration drift in line pressure sensors. Thrice, excessive depletion of the reserve supply occurred because of pressure imbalance between the main and reserve systems. Twice, excessive depletion of the reserve supply occurred owing to failure of the vacuum seal on the reserve supply vessel. Eight other potentially serious mishaps also were reported. These problems, which are inherent in liquid oxygen delivery systems, are for the most part preventable.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Feeley

, McClelland

, Malhotra IV . The hazards of bulk oxygen delivery systems. Lancet 1975;1:1416–1418.

Feeley

, Hedley-Whyte

Bulk oxygen and nitrous oxide delivery systems. Anesthesiology 1976;44:301–305.

Standard cryogenic liquid transfer connections, CGA Pamphlet V-6. New York: Compressed Gas Association, 1978.

ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, Unfired pressure vessels. New York: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1977.

Standard for bulk oxygen systems at consumer sites, NFPA 50, 1974. Boston: National Fire Protection Association, 1974.

ANSI B-31.3, 1973, American National Standard code for pressure piping, petroleum refinery piping. New York: American National Standards Institute, 1973.

Nonflammable medical gas systems, NFPA 56F-1979. Bos-ton: National Fire Protection Association, 1979.

Carson

, Gibson

Piped medical gas systems. Lancet 1975;2:84.

Sprague

, Archer

. Intraoperative hypoxia from an erroneously filled liquid oxygen reservoir. Anesthesiology 1975;42:360–362.

10.

Epstein

, Rackow

, Lee

ASJ

, . Prevention of accidental breathing of anoxic gas mixtures during anesthe-sia. Anesthesiology 1962;23:1–4.

11.

Clutton-Brock

Two cases of poisoning by contamination of nitrous oxide with higher oxides of nitrogen during anes-thesia. Br J Anaesth 1967;39:388–392.

12.

Wylie

. "There, but for the grace of God…" Ann R Coll Surg Engl 1975;56:171–180.

13.

Johnson

. Central oxygen supply versus Mother Nature. Respir Care 1975;20:1043–1044.

14.

Safe practices guide for air separation plants, CGA Pam-phlet P-8. New York: Compressed Gas Association, 1976.

Hazards of Hospital Bulk Oxygen Delivery Systems*

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References