Table showing anaesthetic solution options Anaesthetic solution
Draw-over system
Benefits
Important to know
• Requires no electricity
• Can be transported in luggage
• Can be used for all age groups
• S upplementary oxygen can be given
• C an have an external ventilator attached to it • Small and portable
• S upplied with a trolley to facilitate storage
• Generally the lowest-cost option
• Can be used on newborns
• Maintenance-free
Self-contained system
• E quipped with an Inbuilt ventilator, like a traditional anaesthetic machine
• L arger than draw-over machines, so there can be freight cost implications
• N eeds no external gases, thanks to inbuilt oxygen concentrator
• R equires mains electricity the majority of the time
• C an run without mains power for a limited period
• C an be connected to external gas supply, if available
• U sed in major medical centres globally
• N eeds extensive stocks of soda lime to extract CO2 from patient’s gases
• W orks with much lower flow rates of gas, as it recycles the patient’s gases Circle machine
• More advanced ventilator
• R equires regular servicing on a yearly basis, unlike the solutions above • R equires CO2 and anaesthetic agent monitoring • M ost expensive anaesthetic option; rarely suitable for LMIC environments
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