Machines used in anesthesia haven’t changed all that much in recent years. Today’s machines are easier, more effective, and safer than they were in the past thanks to a number of new features.
It can be challenging to find the ideal machine for your facility, however, due to the wide range of features and brands that are offered. You can determine what kind of machine will work best for you by reading this article, which will also outline some of the most crucial features it should have.
What Kind of Anesthesia Machine Do You Need?
The easiest way to approach this question is to ask yourself, “Have I got to have a ventilator for anesthesia?” In all cases where the patient needs deeper sedation under general anesthesia, ventilators are required. You’ll need a comprehensive anesthesia system if your facility performs these kinds of procedures.
Integrated Systems
Integrated anesthesia systems are made for crowded operating rooms with busy surgical schedules. Ventilation with volume, pressure, and other advanced modes is typically offered by integrated units. Along with three vaporizer chambers, integrated monitoring, gas delivery management, and compatibility with electronic data systems, they frequently have these additional features as well.
Portable Systems
A tabletop or portable anesthesia system is a good choice if you don’t need an anesthesia ventilator. Systems for portable anesthesia are created for field work or office procedures requiring conscious sedation. In monitored anesthesia care (MAC), where a clinician administers local anesthesia along with sedation and analgesia, portable anesthesia machines are used particularly frequently.
Does A Refurbished Machine Make Sense For Your Facility?
Although cost savings are undoubtedly one advantage of buying a used anesthesia machine, there are other advantages as well. A refurbished unit can also save your business valuable time that would otherwise be used to train your staff on the newest technology of your factory-new unit.
The advantages of used equipment must be weighed against the fact that a refurbished anesthesia machine is only as good as the company that performs the refurbishing. Choose a refurbishing business that has a solid reputation for producing high-quality products by confirming that they have the required expertise, stock, and refurbishment procedure.
Are Your Other Systems Compatible?
It’s a good idea to ascertain how your new unit will work with your existing equipment unless your anesthesia machine purchase is a part of a comprehensive equipment overhaul in your facility.
See if your new anesthesia machine has any vaporizer mounting options and if you’ll need to buy any new, compatible vaporizers. If you want to switch brands of the anesthesia machine, this is especially crucial.
Check to see that your new machine has consistent mounting options if you currently use mounting tracks to position monitors or exam lights. Examine your current gas delivery system and scavenging setup as well.
What You Should Consider When Buying The Right Anesthesia Machine
Ventilator Type
Although there are two different types of ventilators connected to anesthesia machines, you must make sure that yours only has the standing bellows ventilator. The best ventilator is this kind because it is built into the device. Why is this crucial? A standing bellows ventilator will collapse right away if there is an internal leak or if the patient becomes disconnected.
As a result, the patient and operator may be put in danger. In contrast, machines without hanging bellows will keep refilling even when there is a significant leak. Modern anesthesia machines from many different manufacturers come equipped with alarm systems that activate when a patient is lost or a system leak is discovered.
The practice of anesthesia has undergone a revolution with the move of all procedures to ambulatory levels. Any ventilator you choose should provide guaranteed volume and allow for pressure-limited ventilation to safeguard the lungs. A pressure control that is powerful enough to ventilate challenging patients should be included in any new or used medical equipment.
Safety Features
Even though they are present in the majority of contemporary systems, there are some safety features you should make sure the machine you’re thinking of buying has. In case the primary supply runs out, backup oxygen and/or nitrous cylinders ought to be fastened to the machine’s back as a backup supply.
You should check to see if the machines you’re thinking about have oxygen sensors in addition to backup cylinders. These sensors will let the operators know how much oxygen is being delivered to the patients and alert them when the oxygen supply is running low.
You should make sure your chosen machine has at least two vaporizer ports if your facility treats both adults and children. This will enable the induction of adults using an IV and isoflurane maintenance, and the induction of children using sevoflurane or halothane.
Size And Mobility Of The Machine
The size and mobility of the anesthesia machine under consideration are also crucial factors. You must take into account several factors when choosing the right machine size for your facility. These factors include the size of the room in which the machine will be used, the likelihood that the machine will be moved, and the frequency of those moves.
If space is at a premium, the anesthesia machine you select must provide enough space around the machine for the operator and proper ventilation. It makes sense to select a lighter anesthesia machine that is simpler for staff to move to the appropriate location if your anesthesia machine will frequently need to be moved.
Your Brand Options
Your next choice will be to select a brand of machine, and you’ll find there are many options after you’ve decided what you need in terms of features, size, and storage. Depending on the features you’ve determined are crucial in a machine, you’ll need to decide which option is best for your facility. It is worthwhile to take into account, though, that some brand names may have more to offer than others.
Ge Anesthesia Systems
There are many reasons why GE anesthesia systems are well-liked. Two of GE’s leading anesthesia machine brands are Drager and Ohmeda. For continuous operation in the event of a power outage, both brands have battery backups.
Additionally, Ohmeda and Drager equipment can easily work with your current data management system and other devices thanks to their open architecture. A further benefit of this technology is that it enables clinicians to concentrate on the patient’s well-being rather than the system’s health during anesthesia machine use.
Drager’s fresh gas decoupling system, which prevents volu and barotrauma as well as the addition of FGFs to delivered tidal volume, is another factor contributing to greater patient safety. GE also manufactures the top anesthesia systems Carestation, Aespire, Aestiva, and Avance.
Purchasing Options – New and Refurbished Equipment
Choosing between buying a new machine or one that has been refurbished will be necessary if one or more of your anesthesia systems need to be replaced. Of course, there will be a lot to take into account.
For instance, investing in new equipment has numerous advantages, not the least of which is the chance to give patients access to the most recent technology. A greater number of new patients may visit you as a result of the fact that you have new equipment. Additionally, as was already mentioned, the numerous helpful features of modern anesthesia machines help clinicians concentrate on the patient.
Room For Storage
The anesthesia machine you purchase should have enough storage space in addition to the features mentioned above. It will be more efficient if there are shelves for monitors and drawers for tubing, stylets, and endotracheal tubes. It can also be very advantageous if the machine has a suction system built-in or a place to attach a suction regulator.
Cost And Lifespan
However, buying new gear is expensive. A new anesthesia machine will need to be purchased, so you must make sure you have the funds for it. If not, getting a loan might be your best option for getting the equipment you require. However, if you choose to do this, be aware that you will probably need to make a 20% down payment on the equipment.
It definitely pays to consider the future when investing in new equipment. Your tools are going to get old eventually. This makes it crucial to pick an anesthesia machine for sale that can not only work with your existing systems but also expand to meet your changing needs in the future. You’ll be able to do this to keep your new equipment for as long as possible before you need to replace it again.
Naturally, you will have to decide whether to sell your equipment once it becomes outdated. This might be challenging if the technology is outdated.
You may also choose to buy refurbished equipment as an alternative to buying new. You can still offer your patients the latest technology by buying refurbished equipment, but you won’t have to pay as much up front.
