EBME Forums Forums Maintenance Technical Assistance Excessive condensation in the circle system

Ive experienced problems where its been the actual teperature within the theatre that has caused the rainout.
Is the theatre particularly cool compaired to the expired breathe.
Is the airway being heated etc.
Also are there any drafts from things like fans, and door air circulation systems. You'd be supprised what causes water in circuits.

Thanks for that. We will try a standard filter. I will let you know how we get on
Kev

I'm interested in all the above comments. From a theoretical view, all of the moisture breathed out by the patient should be picked up by the HME and then re-breathed in. Therefore, very little moisture should find its way to the anaesthetic machine side of the HME. It would be interesting to note what happens when the HME is replaced by a bacterial filter.
Just one further point that Geoff raised regarding an HME in an anaesthetic circuit; the HME could have the reverse effect on the vapourised anaesthetic agents and cause the "rainout" that is being seen, but only if the "moisture" levels and temperature are similar to that seen on the patient side of the HME.
Let's see what Kev finds out??!!!!!

Hello to one and all in the forum (This is my first post, lot my cherry!)

Anyway back on the subject, just wondering do they let the system "breathe" over night by letting the soda lime cannisters down. This will effectively let the system dry out over night??

Welcome to the forum, Mate. Yes, as Kawa says, this is quite an interesting one. My own hunch is that it's something to do with the HME (which I would remove myself, as I say). But this is one of those problems that it's difficult to get to grips with without a diagram, photo ... or better still, actually being there! I guess we now await news from Kev (with, as it were, baited breath)!

PS: Devon, Dorset ... or good old Somerset?

I'm from the mighty Somerset aka Avon!!

I have had running issues with Theatre staff over the use of patient tubing. (The ones which fit on the insp/exp with the y-piece) They do suffer from moisture but the main issue is that they use them for 7 day without changing and hide behind a banner of we change the filter. I would'nt want to be on the other end of a 7 day piece of tubing with moisture and expired gases from Tom, Dick or Harry (Definitely NOT Dick!!) Or maybe Im sensitive like that!

Slightly off subject!!

That's bad practice, Mate (even I know that)! What are they doing, penny pinching? Slapped wrists all around, I'm afraid!

It's not Avon now, though, is it? I remember all the fuss when it first came in. Now there's another fuss about taking it away. My own beef is with all that nonsense about South Gloucestershire (don't even ask about "North Somerset" and "Bath and North-East Somerset" ... spare me)! Just for comparison, have you seen the size of counties like North Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk ... or even glorious Devon? Why can't the meddling idiots just leave things alone!

It is officially Somerset now and Avon has now been retired to the History books! Well what would all the idiots do if they cant think up stupid thinks like name changes instead of immigration ,crime and a spiralling economy. Ive heard its not illegal to lie in parliament but I suppose we all ready know about that!!

Just as long as our beloved E.U. doesn't ban cider, eh?

Meanwhile, back at the thread ... I wonder how Kev is getting on (having problems convincing his anaesthetist, I shouldn't wonder)!

Thanks for the imput.
Regarding the HME Filter - Geoff you were under the opinion that they were not used in anaesthetic cases is that the opinion of of others. ie: do other hospitals use Bacterial Filters or HME Filters?