Understanding Anesthesia Equipment: Construction, Care and Complications

Abstract

For the last two decades, Dorsch and Dorsch's<i>Understanding Anesthesia Equipment</i>has been a classic textbook on the subject for most anesthesiologists. Since the previous edition of 1984, tremendous strides have occurred in anesthesia practice. Upon reviewing this newest edition, I find that the authors have managed to preserve their original systematic approach to the subject while highlighting practical clinical situations and current changes. The book has 19 chapters and an index. Chapters 1 to 10 take the reader through a review of the anesthesia delivery system, from gas supplies in chapter 1 to the anesthesia ventilator in chapter 10. Each chapter begins with an explanation of basic scientific units of measure (such as the psig) or a short historical narrative before delving into specific details of the equipment. It usually then ends with a discussion of the limitations and problems of the equipment. Chapter 11, "Controlling Trace Gas Levels,"