Checking the anaesthetic machine

Making sure that anaesthetic equipment is working correctly is an essential part of the anaesthetic practitioner's role. During induction of anaesthesia the patient is at one of the most vulnerable points in his or her perioperative care. This is the point at which equipment error may put the patient at high risk of harm, for example, through compromising the airway, causing circulatory problems, preventing satisfactory oxygenation or even causing death. Many writers have drawn comparisons between anaesthesia and aviation, with the suggestion that practitioners should check the anaesthetic machines using a 'cockpit drill' (Ranasinghe 2000). The purpose of this detailed check is to ensure the machine is safe to use. The careful attention to the check is a reflection of good practice which the practitioner's codes of professional practice demand (HPC 2004, NMC 2004). This article discusses the importance of following the anaesthetic checklist to the recommended standards for both the practitioner and the patient.