type of lung pathology, you
can tailor and fine tune a tradi-
tional ventilator to better treat
the disease. The ventilator
function on many anesthesia
machines offers basic func-
tions for life support. As far as
a life-saving measures, a
patient can be sustained on an
anesthesia machine in a pan-
demic situation where equip-
ment shortages exist.
Anesthesia machines are
bulky — much larger than a
typical ventilator that can easi-
ly be wheeled around — so the
idea of a freestanding surgery
center donating or loaning one
to an area hospital by shipping it to them isn't feasible. However, the
conversion provides the possibility that outpatient ORs can host
COVID-19 patients in need of mechanical ventilation.
Patients requiring mechanical ventilation must first be intubated
with an endotracheal tube. It is important to keep in mind that every-
one in the immediate area is in danger during intubation because of
the insidious communicability of COVID-19. Opening the patient's air-
way to insert a breathing tube could aerosolize the virus, which is
spread through droplets in the air. The result of intubation is much
like someone constantly sneezing or coughing into the air around you.
Right now, when intubating COVID-19 patients, it is recommended
anesthesia providers wear a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR),
Anesthesia Alert
AA
1 0 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • M A Y 2 0 2 0
• FRESH AIR Heat and humidity exchange filters create a moist
breathing environment for the patient and keep the circuit free of
contaminants.
Michael
McLaughlin,
DNP,
CRNA/APN
