A reply

Abstract

GE Healthcare welcomes the opportunity to respond. Dr Jones has indicated the Aestiva 7900 did switch on and was running on battery while carrying out the pre-use check out procedure. It would appear all devices did not receive electrical power, which was picked up during the pre-use check, thus highlighting the importance of such checks. The Aestiva 7900 anaesthetic machine is one the most widely used anaesthetic machines in the United Kingdom. The testing of the Aestiva 7900 and auxiliary devices are described in the operation manual that is provided with each machine; an abbreviated checklist is also provided with each machine. These checklists are designed to ensure that the Aestiva 7900 is leak-free and safe before use on a patient. Any auxiliary devices that are connected to our machines, such as breathing circuits or patient monitoring, should also be tested, as per their manufacturer’s guidelines. Customers can choose to have their Aestiva 7900 supplied with or without electrical sockets. A very small number of Aestiva 7900s are purchased in the UK without electrical sockets. Should customers choose the option of electrical sockets then an isolation transformer is included, which gives added electrical safety for the patient and the user. The isolation transformer stops increased earth leakage currents from these external devices such as patient monitoring, and printers from causing harm to the patient or the user, should they develop an electrical fault. Customers who choose not to purchase electrical sockets on their Aestiva 7900 machines do so for various reasons. A practical reason for not requiring sockets on the Aestiva 7900 may be that the anaesthetists may want to use the electrical sockets on their theatre pendants for their patient monitoring or external devices. These electrical sockets may be on a hospital circuit that has a battery back-up or be part of a back-up electrical generator system. The other reason for not choosing electrical sockets on the anaesthesia machine is usually financial. Datex-Ohmeda (now part of GE Healthcare) were approached by some of these customers who had originally purchased their Aestiva 7900 without electrical sockets. These customers indicated that they would now like to have electrical sockets fitted to their Aestiva machines, due to changes in their theatre environments or work practices. Several years ago Royal Oldham Hospital made such a request, requiring additional isolated sockets on their Aestiva 7900 Anaesthetic machine, while still complying with European Union Electrical standards for anaesthesia machines. For additional electrical outlets to be fitted an isolation transformer was fitted (Fig. 2); this has a high rating enabling, amongst other things, the Aestiva 7900 anaesthesia machine, patient monitoring, printers and warmers to be connected in a safe electrical environment. The isolation transformer and electrical sockets are CE marked and were supplied to customers such as Royal Oldham Hospital. Datex-Ohmeda staff never fit the cover plate as in Fig. 1. This access opening would allow users access to the isolation transformer as part of their pre-use check and give a visual indication that the device was switched on. Anaesthetic machines are now complex items of life support equipment and as such the anaesthetist should use the manufacturer’s guidelines in conjunction with the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland's guidelines on how to check the anaesthetic machine. The same principle applies to external devices connected to anaesthesia machines.