Anaesthesia
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Enough evidence now exists to suggest that windowless environments in hospitals increase the risk to the patient for a number of reasons. These include a direct influence on his own physiological and psychological state, a lowering of the standard of care by an effect on hospital staff, and increased vulnerability to physical hazards. The psychological ill effects of the intensive therapy unit (ITU) environment on its occupants are well recognised. The aggravation of these effects by the construction of any further windowless units can no longer be regarded as acceptable.
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A new ventilator for use during anaesthesia is described. It operates as a minute-volume divider and derives its power from the energy stored in a distended reservoir bag. ⋯ The nature of the inspired gas mixture is known accurately because the internal volume of the ventilator is small and the system is non-rebreathing. The design of the exhaust system facilitates ventilation monitoring, the use of positive end-expiratory pressure and connection to ducted pollution-control systems.