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. 2020 May;14(7):e01243.
doi: 10.1213/XAA.0000000000001243.

Use of Anesthesia Machines in a Critical Care Setting During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Kent M K Haina Jr  1
Affiliations

Use of Anesthesia Machines in a Critical Care Setting During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Kent M K Haina Jr. A A Pract. 2020 May.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created an unprecedented need for mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients. To meet this increased demand, some facilities were forced to use anesthesia gas machines (AGMs) as intensive care unit (ICU) ventilators. While an off-label use, AGM manufacturers, the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists have guidelines for AGM use in the ICU, however, there is scant literature describing their use. This article describes our experiences at New York University Langone Medical Center using AGMs in the ICU for ventilating critically ill COVID-19 patients.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Picture of the end of the breathing circuit with Y-piece, heat and moisture exchanger, elbow connector, end-tidal carbon dioxide sample line, water trap, and endotracheal tube labeled.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Expiratory limb filters. A, Picture of the end of the expiratory limb of the breathing circuit with a heat and moisture exchanger and electrostatic filter attached. B, Picture of the end of the expiratory limb of the breathing circuit with an electrostatic filter only attached.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Endotracheal tube clamped with surgical clamp and gauze for heat and moisture exchanger change.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. APSF/ASA Guidance On Purposing Anesthesia Machines As ICU Ventilators. American Society of Anesthesiologists. 2020. Available at: https://www.asahq.org/in-the-spotlight/coronavirus-covid-19-information/.... Accessed April 13, 2020.
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MeSH terms