Anaesthesia

The equipment - the gas delivery system
Should you not be too drowsy when you are transferred into the theatre, you will see the anaesthetic machine at one end of the operating table.

The equipment - the ventilator
Because anaesthetic agents depress breathing and muscle relaxants paralyse breathing, it is often necessary to use a ventilator to take over breathing for the patient.

Other equipment
Your anaesthesiologist will have a number of other pieces of equipment set out on the tray on the anaesthetic machine.

The equipment - the anaesthetic circuit
This contains a series of corrugated tubes, a valve through which gas can escape from the circuit, and a bag that the anaesthesiologist uses to manually ventilate the patient’s lungs when necessary.

The equipment - the monitor screen
On top of the anaesthetic machine or built into it is the anaesthetic monitor. This is like a computer screen, and the most up-to-date models have a colour display.

The anaesthetic record
Even though all the readings of the patient’s vital signs are displayed on the monitor, your anaesthesiologist will keep make written record of these at 5-minute intervals.