AANA Journal course: update for nurse anesthetists--utilizing the Ohmeda draw-over vaporizer in the operating room

The draw-over anesthesia system (DOAS) is a portable, lightweight, safe system for administering anesthesia in a remote or disaster situation. Unfortunately, the DOAS (which has many models worldwide) cannot be used in a modern operating room because it lacks safety monitors that are required by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and Harvard standards. Therefore, this article examines modifications to the DOAS to permit staff familiarization with it in a modern operating room. All anesthesia providers who have an interest or obligation in assisting in civil defense, humanitarian missions, or volunteer healthcare organizations should be aware of this anesthesia delivery system, its unique characteristics, and this suggested method of familiarization.