Anesthesia Technician Practice Exam

In terms of safety, what should be avoided with sidestream gas analyzers?

1. Operating them during surgery

2. Allowing them to empty into room air

3. Connecting them to an oxygen supply

4. Calibrating them too frequently

The correct answer is: Allowing them to empty into room air

Sidestream gas analyzers are designed to sample gases from the patient's breathing circuit or an anesthesia delivery system for accurate monitoring. When these machines discharge their samples, it is important to have a controlled environment for accurate readings and to ensure safety. Allowing sampled gases to empty into room air can lead to inaccurate results and potentially unsafe conditions. If the anesthetic gases mix with the ambient air and are not adequately vented or processed, it can lead to environmental exposure, affecting both patient and staff safety. In contrast, operating the analyzers during surgery is generally standard practice to ensure continuous monitoring. Connecting them to an oxygen supply is a common operational procedure to ensure the samples remain constant and avoid misreading. While calibration is important for accurate readings, calibrating too frequently isn't necessarily a safety issue but rather relates to operational efficiency and effectiveness. Thus, avoiding the discharge of gases directly into room air is critical for maintaining safety and accuracy in monitoring during anesthesia procedures.