Sometimes a person faces serious he alth problems when the most effective treatment is surgery. An operation on any organ without anesthesia will not work, otherwise the patient will experience terrible pain, which in the end can cost him his life. There are several types of anesthesia, but the deepest and longest is given using special equipment. The anesthesia machine, namely, it is the main device present in the operating room, will quickly make the patient under general anesthesia, during which any intervention is carried out. But what is this device?
Anesthesia machine: what is it?
An anesthesia machine is a medical device that is designed to provide general anesthesia. This device can be called an anesthesia supply system. If in the distant past the functionality of these devices was reduced to the fact that the supply of inhalation anesthetics and gases for life support to the patient circuit was provided, thenmodern medical equipment gives more opportunities. It not only can supply oxygen and inhalation anesthetics in the form of gas or liquid, but also perform comprehensive monitoring of vital signs:
- pressure in breathing passages;
- flow and concentration of oxygen;
- automatic artificial ventilation of the patient's lungs.
Due to the fact that the peculiarities of the most complex operations using general anesthesia are considered a necessity, in addition, it is important to carry out artificial ventilation of the lungs. During operation, the apparatus of modern production for a certain period of time replaces the functions of the respiratory muscles of the human body, oxygenation and ventilation are provided. An endotracheal tube or an anesthetic mask is used to deliver anesthesia.
In addition, this device allows you to control the volume and pressure, but the methods can be different, for example, it can be auxiliary or controlled ventilation, pressure, controlled or supporting, and many other functions.
Where is the anesthesia machine used?
Anesthesia-respiratory device is used not only for surgical interventions, but also during the treatment of various severe pathologies in which the most important functions of the body are disturbed:
- acute heart failure;
- respiratory problems: pneumonia, asthma, pulmonary edema;
- shock;
- coma;
- convulsive conditions of various etiologies;
- severe injuries and burns;
- infectious diseases, especially botulism, tetanus and others;
- acute forms of poisoning.
Modular anesthesia system has several operating modes:
- provides positive pressure that is continuously applied;
- positive pressure but delivered in two levels;
- combination of the above two functions.
Types of anesthesia devices
Currently, a huge number of devices have appeared that help not only surgeons when general anesthesia (narcosis) is needed, but also doctors who have to care for patients with complex pathologies.
In order to help doctors in their treatment, manufacturers offer several types of devices:
- outdoor;
- wall-mounted;
- portable.
Floor models are equipped with a locking system and wheel supports, which made them as comfortable as possible in stationary conditions.
Wall-mounted options are most often used to equip air ambulance helicopters, reanimobiles or modern ambulances.
Portable or modular designed to equip first responders and first responders with the most essential and lightweight equipment to help any patient with any severity of illness anywhere.
In addition, modular devices are additionally equipped with batteries that help the device work uninterruptedly for several hours in any conditions. Also, all devices may vary depending on which category of patients they are intended for. So, for example, for children, such devices are called neonatal and have a number of additional functions.
The principle of operation of the anesthesia machine
Anesthetic units operate on the principle of blowing. They help to supply the patient's lungs with a volume of anesthetics in the form of a gas combined with oxygen, or oxygen alone. Everything directly depends on the situation: it is necessary to perform an operation or resuscitation, the patient's age, weight, and concomitant ailments must be taken into account.
IVL is carried out with a positive end-expiratory pressure of 5-10-15 cm of water column, but indications are taken into account. It is possible to carry out artificial ventilation of the lungs for several hours, and sometimes days or years. There are also high frequency devices. They come in several types: volumetric, inkjet and oscillatory.
The jet device is the most commonly used, and it delivers the number of respiratory cycles in the range of 100-300 per minute. Thus, it is possible to reduce the load on the heart, improve blood flow and gas exchange in the lungs. Ventilation can be used in parallel with conventional ventilation.
Technical characteristics of anesthesia devices
There is no better equipment that combines several sciences (surgery, anesthesiology and resuscitation) together thananesthesia device. Such devices have been used for a long time, but modern devices are distinguished by a variety of functions and help even in the most difficult cases. Modern complexes consist of the following systems:
- high pressure;
- dosimeter;
- anesthetic vaporizer in liquid form;
- built-in ventilation, which has several operating modes at once;
- absorbent breathing circuit;
- display for process monitoring;
- aspirator;
- breathing mixture humidifier.
A dosimeter and a vaporizer are necessary in order to accurately select the dosage of a narcotic substance. In most cases, a rotary type is used, where the flow rate of the mixture is set using a float. The evaporator is a special container, it is in it that the liquid anesthetic is transformed into steam.
The breathing unit is used in the same way as a manual ventilator and as a drug storage device.
Features of anesthesia devices
Today, anesthesiology and resuscitation have gone far ahead. This is due to the fact that modern equipment allows us to provide assistance to patients with severe pathologies in a short time. Most often, in medical institutions, effective and economical anesthesia units are used. They have a prefabricated structure, which makes it possible to select modules from certain needs of a specialist and the specifics of the operation.
In addition, each currently existing anesthesia machine has its own differences:
- View of the anesthetic ventilator. And there are two of them: pneumatic and electric, and in some models there is no fan at all.
- Rotameter type: mechanical or electronic.
- Variety of gas uses: air, oxygen, nitrous oxide, xenon and others.
- Possibility or impossibility of using low-flow anesthesia.
- The amount of time that allows the device to work autonomously.
- Sizes.
- Differences depending on the age of the patient.
Another important difference is the convenience of equipment disinfection. Manufacturers produce models that require disassembly of the breathing circuit for disinfection, and there are those where such difficulties are not necessary.
But in order to accurately understand the features of anesthesia machines, it is necessary to consider several of the most popular types.
Apparatus for anesthesia "Polynarcon"
This device is from a domestic manufacturer, it is considered one of the most popular. To date, many doctors have given good reviews about this device, because it helps to ensure that the patient breathes through one of the 4 circuits. They integrate perfectly with devices that provide artificial ventilation, but they are best compared with such devices: RO-5 or 6, PHASE-5, which ultimately makes it possible to optimally adjust and constantly monitor lung volume. Similar models are affordable.
Fabius anesthesia machinePlus
This device from the German manufacturer "Dreger" is very popular. Those who have already tried it in the work, were satisfied. This appliance is equipped with an E-vent fan that provides several ventilation modes:
- manual/spontaneous;
- controlling volume;
- with constant pressure control;
- with pressure support;
- synchronized supplementary ventilation.
The Draeger Fabius anesthesia machine is an electrically driven device with a piston and electronic control. It comes with a battery, and it works autonomously for more than 45 minutes. This device has a very simple and understandable interface for everyone.
Technical characteristics of "Fabius"
To understand exactly what advantages this device has, it is better to immediately clarify its functions:
- Continuous inspiratory O2 monitoring;
- continuous monitoring of respiratory rate and minute volume;
- monitoring without interruption of peak pressure in the respiratory tract;
- plateau pressure.
To say how this device differs from many others, you need to decide on its distinctive features:
- it is equipped with a color display, where digital and graphical parameters are displayed;
- it has a reliable and safe mechanical rotor system;
- it is possible to mount two vaporizers of inhalation anesthetics at the same time;
- hemobile, so it is easy for the doctor to organize an optimal workspace for himself;
- convenient trolley base, on which you can additionally place other types of equipment.
But no matter what device anesthesia is given, every patient should know that it can harm the body.
General anesthesia: consequences for the body
Despite the fact that anesthesia was administered correctly and by a professional anesthesiologist, it must be remembered that its introduction entails some possible consequences, among which:
- hypotension;
- vomit reflex;
- arrhythmia;
- cerebral edema;
- asphyxia;
- complications in the pulmonary system;
- inflammatory processes;
- kidney failure;
- failures in the circulatory system that provides the brain.
The patients themselves, who were given general anesthesia, describe the consequences for the body as follows: distracted attention, partial memory loss, problems with speech. Some patients experience mild excitability, irritability, nervousness, insomnia.
Especially anesthesia affects children, pregnant women and the elderly.
Reviews of doctors
Surgeons, anesthesiologists and resuscitators use the anesthesia machine more than once in their practice. According to their feedback, the devices that operating rooms were equipped with in the distant Soviet times were not efficient and practical. But nowadays, when innovations do not stand still,everything has changed a lot, modern devices have a lot of advantages, thanks to which doctors can help even seriously ill people. With their help, it was possible to reduce the mortality of seriously ill patients.
Conclusion
Summing up, we can say for sure that modern devices of any type are effective devices that help not only quickly apply anesthesia to a person, but also support the vital activity of some organs. In addition, with their help, the anesthesiologist has the opportunity to choose the optimal dose for a particular patient. Anesthesia machines of any type may only be used by qualified professionals, in the hospital or by mobile rescue teams on the road.
