How can operating-room personnel reduce their exposures to waste anesthetic gases?
Anesthetic gases cannot be detected by their odor until concentrations are very high. For example, halothane cannot be detected by 50% of the general population until the concentration is more than 125 times the NIOSH recommended exposure limit. Reduce exposures to waste anesthetic gases by following these procedures before anesthesia begins: • Inspect the anesthetic delivery system before each use. Look for irregularities or breaks. • Check the patient’s breathing circuit for negative pressure and positive pressure relief as part of the daily machine checklist. • Turn on the room or local ventilation system. • Make sure the scavenging equipment is properly connected. • Connect the gas outlet to the hospital’s central scavenging system. • Start the gas flow after the laryngeal mask or endotracheal tube is installed. • Fill vaporizers under a ceiling-mounted hood with an active evacuation system. • Fill vaporizers before or after the anesthetic procedure. • Make sure that uncuffed endot
