Journal of Clinical Anesthesia
Volume 11, Issue 7 , Pages 536-539 , November 1999

High-quality filtration allows reuse of anesthesia breathing circuits resulting in cost savings and reduced medical waste

Presented in part at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, Orlando, FL, October 17–21, 1998.

  • Ralph Daggan, MS (CRNA)

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anesthesiology, The Cooper Health System, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, Camden, NJ, USA
    • Certified Registered Nurse-Anesthetist, Department of Anesthesiology, The Cooper Health System
    • ,
  • Andreas Zefeiridis, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anesthesiology, The Cooper Health System, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, Camden, NJ, USA
    • Research Associate, Department of Anesthesiology, The Cooper Health System
    • ,
  • Dean Steinberg, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anesthesiology, Methodist Hospital Division, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
    • Chairman, Department of Anesthesiology, Methodist Hospital Division, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
    • ,
  • Ghassem Larijani (PharmD)

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anesthesiology, The Cooper Health System, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, Camden, NJ, USA
    • Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; Director of Research and Anesthesiology, The Cooper Health System
    • ,
  • Irwin Gratz (DO)

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anesthesiology, The Cooper Health System, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, Camden, NJ, USA
    • University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; Director of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, The Cooper Health System
    • ,
  • Michael E Goldberg, MD

      Affiliations

    • Professor of Anesthesiology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; Chief, Department of Anesthesiology, The Cooper Health System
    • Department of Anesthesiology, The Cooper Health System, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, Camden, NJ, USA

Received 19 January 1999 ,Revised 2 June 1999 ,Accepted 2 June 1999.

References 

  1. Dryden GE. Risk of contamination from the anesthetic circle absorber (an evaluation). Anesth Analg. 1969;48:939–943
  2. Babington PC, Baker AB, Johnston HH. Retrograde spread of organisms from ventilator to patient via the expiratory limb. Lancet. 1971;1:61–62
  3. Nielsen H, Jacobsen JB, Stokke DB, Brinklov MM, Christensen KN. Cross-infection from contaminated anaesthetic equipment. A real hazard?. Anaesthesia. 1980;35:703–708
  4. Shiotani GM, Nicholes P, Ballinger CM, Shaw L. Prevention of contamination of the circle system and ventilators with a new disposable filter. Anesth Analg. 1971;50:844–855
  5. Moulin GC, Saubermann AJ. The anesthesia machine and circle system are not likely to be sources of bacterial contamination. Anesthesiology. 1977;47:353–358
  6. Stark DC, Green CA, Pask EA. Anaesthetic machines and cross-infection. Anaesthesia. 1962;17:12–20
  7. Feeley TW, Hamilton WK, Xavier B, Moyers J, Eger EI. Sterile anesthesia breathing circuits do not prevent postoperative pulmonary infection. Anesthesiology. 1981;54:369–372
  8. Parmley JB, Tahir AH, Dascomb HE, Adriani J. Disposable versus reusable rebreathing circuits (advantages, disadvantages, hazards and bacteriological studies). Anesth Analg. 1972;51:888–894
  9. Goldberg ME, Vekeman D, Torjman MC, Seltzer JL, Kynes T. Medical waste in the environment (do anesthesia personnel have a role to play?). J Clin Anesth. 1996;8:475–479
  10. Martin JT, Ulrich JA. A bacterial filter for an anesthetic circuit. Anesth Analg. 1969;48:944–946
  11. Luttropp HH, Berntman L. Bacterial filters protect anaesthetic equipment in a low-flow system. Anaesthesia. 1993;48:520–523
  12. Holdcroft A, Lumley J, Gaya H, Adams D. Respiratory filters in clinical practice. Lancet. 1974;2:25–26
  13. Frankenberger H, Schulze M. Water permeability of breathing filters. Anaesthesist. 1995;44:581–584
  14. Gallagher J, Strangeways JE, Allt-Graham J. Contamination control in long-term ventilation. A clinical study using heat- and moisture-exchanging filter. Anaesthesia. 1987;42:476–481

PII: S0952-8180(99)00083-5

Journal of Clinical Anesthesia
Volume 11, Issue 7 , Pages 536-539 , November 1999

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