[A new leak test of anesthetic machine]

A case of the inspired PCO2 increase secondary to the malfunction of expiratory valve due to a defected edge of creator is presented. In this case, we could not detect the malfunction of expiratory valve using the preanesthetic routine leak test but found it by observing the expiratory phase of the capnometric curve. Therefore, we devised a new leak test for checking the malfunction of inspiratory and expiratory valves. This test is simple and effective. The test consists of the following procedures.: 1. Connecting yokes to the oxygen piping system. 2. Connecting the breathing bag. 3. Occluding the inspiratory terminal. Closing the semiclosed valve completely. 4. Flushing the O2 gas and increasing the pressure of breathing circuit to 30 cmH2O. 5. Monitoring the pressure gauge of the anesthesia system. If the function of valves is normal, the system pressure decreases slowly. If either of the valves works wrong, it decreases rapidly. We checked anesthesia machines in our facilities using the new leak test, and found some cases of the expiratory valve malfunctions.