Anaesthesia machine is used in general anaesthesia for?

BCCL kharkhanda Staff Nurse - 2015

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: BCCL kharkhanda Staff Nurse - 2015

Explanation

The anaesthesia machine is an integrated system designed to perform multiple functions essential for safe general anaesthesia.
It delivers a precise mixture of medical gases, including oxygen, to ensure the patient remains oxygenated.
It vaporizes and delivers inhalational anaesthetic agents to induce and maintain a state of unconsciousness.
It includes a breathing circuit that removes carbon dioxide from exhaled air and a scavenging system to dispose of waste anaesthetic gases.
Since the machine performs all the functions listed in options A, B, and C, the most accurate and complete answer is "All of these".

Option A: This is a correct function, but it is an incomplete description of the machine's total capabilities. The machine does much more than just supply oxygen.
Option B: This is also a correct function, but it represents only the waste removal aspect (CO₂ absorption and scavenging). It ignores the primary delivery functions.
Option C: This describes the core anaesthetic delivery function but omits the life-sustaining delivery of oxygen and the critical removal of waste gases.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Functions of an Anaesthesia Machine as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses in the operating theatre (OT) and post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU) must have a fundamental understanding of the anaesthesia machine to assist the anaesthesiologist, anticipate patient needs, and respond effectively to alarms or emergencies.
Knowledge of the scavenging system is vital for occupational health. It protects OT staff from chronic exposure to waste anaesthetic gases, which can have long-term health effects.
A pre-use machine check, often following a checklist, is a critical safety step to ensure all components, including gas supplies, the CO₂ absorber, and the ventilator, are functioning correctly before every case.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the question to identify the core subject: the functions of an anaesthesia machine during general anaesthesia.
Evaluate each option (A, B, and C) to determine if it is a valid function of the machine.
Recognize that delivering oxygen (A), delivering anaesthetic gases (C), and removing exhaled gases (B) are all essential tasks performed by the machine.
When you identify that multiple individual options are correct, look for a comprehensive option like "All of the above" or "All of these".
Conclude that since options A, B, and C are all correct functions, option D, "All of these," is the most complete and therefore the best answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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