Waste Anesthetic Gases
Waste anesthetic gases are small amounts of volatile anesthetic gases that leak from the patient's anesthetic breathing circuit into the air of operating rooms during delivery of anesthesia.
Waste anesthetic gases are small amounts of volatile anesthetic gases that leak during the delivery of anesthesia.
These gases may also be exhaled by patients recovering from anesthesia.
Waste anesthetic gases include both nitrous oxide and halogenated anesthetics such as:
- halothane
- enflurane
- isoflurane
- desflurane
- sevoflurane
- methoxyflurane (no longer used in the United States)
The halogenated anesthetics are often administered in combination with nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide and some of the halogenated anesthetics may pose a hazard to hospital workers.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-7. Which of the following is a waste anesthetic gas that might be exhaled by patients recovering from anesthesia?
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