Pre-use anesthesia machine check; certified anesthesia technician based quality improvement audit

CONTEXT: Quality assurance of providing a work ready machine in multiple theatre operating rooms in a tertiary modern medical center in Riyadh. AIMS: The aim of the following study is to keep high quality environment for workers and patients in surgical operating rooms. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Technicians based audit by using key performance indicators to assure inspection, passing test of machine worthiness for use daily and in between cases and in case of unexpected failure to provide quick replacement by ready to use another anesthetic machine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anesthetic machines in all operating rooms are daily and continuously inspected and passed as ready by technicians and verified by anesthesiologist consultant or assistant consultant. The daily records of each machines were collected then inspected for data analysis by quality improvement committee department for descriptive analysis and report the degree of staff compliance to daily inspection as “met” items. Replaced machine during use and overall compliance. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Distractive statistic using Microsoft Excel 2003 tables and graphs of sums and percentages of item studied in this audit. RESULTS: Audit obtained highest compliance percentage and low rate of replacement of machine which indicate unexpected machine state of use and quick machine switch. CONCLUSIONS: The authors are able to conclude that following regular inspection and running self-check recommended by the manufacturers can contribute to abort any possibility of hazard of anesthesia machine failure during operation. Furthermore in case of unexpected reason to replace the anesthesia machine in quick maneuver contributes to high assured operative utilization of man machine inter-phase in modern surgical operating rooms.