• D M Scott.
• Department of Anaesthetics, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales.
• Anaesth Intensive Care. 1991 Aug 1;19(3):441-3.

AbstractThe introduction of systems to facilitate the changing of vaporisers on the back bar of the anaesthetic machine has increased the risk of a vaporiser being tipped or inverted prior to attachment. The performance of three Ohmeda Tec 3 and three Ohmeda Tec 4 vaporisers following tipping to 30 degrees, 90 degrees and inversion to 180 degrees was measured using a calibrated Datex Capnomac AGM-103 analyser. Both types of vaporiser when switched off tolerated tipping and inversion without alteration of the anaesthetic concentration subsequently delivered. The same was true for the Tec 3 after tipping to 30 degrees and 90 degrees with the dial set at zero or above. However, after inversion of the Tec 3 vaporiser with the dial at zero or higher, the anaesthetic concentration delivered was much greater than shown on the dial, initially exceeding 12% for all agents. Should a Tec 3 vaporiser be inverted with the dial at any setting other than OFF, it is necessary to adequately flush it with fresh gas and check its output prior to use.

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