Question of the Day

The best time to refill the anesthetic vaporizer is before the start of a new anesthesia case, when the vaporizer is turned off. When refilling a vaporizer, make sure to avoid any spilling of inhalant by following the manufacturer’s instructions, and let people around you know what you are doing.

It is also good to leave a machine ready to go in the evening for potential emergencies.

During long procedures, depending on oxygen fresh gas flow rate, and vaporizer %-setting, it may be necessary to refill a vaporizer during the maintenance of anesthesia. The vaporizer must be in the off-position, just as you would refill it before anesthesia.