After reading this chapter you will be able to: Describe how medical gases and gas mixtures are produced. Discuss the clinical applications for medical gases and gas mixtures. Distinguish between gaseous and liquid storage methods. Calculate the duration of remaining contents of a compressed oxygen cylinder. Calculate the duration of remaining contents of a liquid oxygen cylinder. Describe how to store, transport, and use compressed gas cylinders properly. Distinguish between gas supply systems. Describe what to do if a bulk oxygen supply system fails. Differentiate among safety systems that apply to various equipment connections. Select the appropriate devices to regulate gas pressure or control flow in various clinical settings. Describe how to assemble, check for proper function, and identify malfunctions in gas delivery equipment. Identify and correct common malfunctions of gas delivery equipment. There are many commercially produced gases, but only a few are used medically (Table 37-1). Medical gases are classified as laboratory gases, therapeutic gases, or anesthetic gases. Laboratory gases are used for equipment calibration and diagnostic testing. Therapeutic gases are used to relieve symptoms and improve oxygenation of patients with hypoxemia. Anesthetic gases are combined with oxygen (O2) to provide anesthesia during surgery. It is important for RTs to be familiar with all aspects of gases used in the clinical setting, especially the chemical symbols, physical characteristics, ability to support life, and fire risk. In regard to fire risk, medical compressed gases are classified as either nonflammable (do not burn), nonflammable but supportive of combustion (also termed oxidizing), or flammable (burns readily, potentially explosive).1 Of the gases listed in Table 37-1, the focus of this chapter is on the therapeutic gases. TABLE 37-1 Physical Characteristics of Medical Gases
Storage and Delivery of Medical Gases
Gas
Chemical Symbol
Color
Taste
Odor
Can Support Life
Flammability
Laboratory Gases
Nitrogen
N
Colorless
Tasteless
Odorless
No
Nonflammable
Helium
He
Colorless
Tasteless
Odorless
No
Nonflammable
Carbon dioxide
CO2
Colorless
Slightly acidic
Odorless
No
Nonflammable
Therapeutic Gases
Air
AIR
Colorless
Tasteless
Odorless
Yes
Supports combustion
Oxygen
O2
Colorless
Tasteless
Odorless
Yes
Supports combustion
Helium/oxygen (heliox)
He/O2
Colorless
Tasteless
Odorless
Yes
Supports combustion
Carbon dioxide/oxygen
CO2/O2
Colorless
Slightly acidic
Odorless
No
Supports combustion
Nitric oxide
NO
Colorless
Tasteless
Metallic
No
Supports combustion
Anesthetic Gas
Nitrous oxide
N2O
Colorless
Slightly sweet
Slightly sweet
No
Supports combustion
Storage and Delivery of Medical Gases
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