World Federation Of Anaesthesia Technologists And Technicians Societies.

02/21/2025

COCKPIT DRILL: A SAFE ANAESTHESIA PRACTICES

COCKPIT DRILL: An Advanced Safe Anaesthesia Practice

Introduction

The Cockpit Drill in anaesthesia is a structured pre-induction checklist designed to enhance patient safety, optimize workflow, and minimize human error. This approach mirrors aviation pre-flight procedures, ensuring readiness for both routine and high-risk cases. Advanced anaesthesia safety practices involve thorough equipment checks, comprehensive patient assessment, and proactive emergency preparedness.

1. PATIENT ASSESSMENT & OPTIMIZATION

- Patient Identification & Procedure Confirmation – Verify patient identity, surgical site, and consent in line with WHO Surgical Safety Checklist.

- Preoperative Risk Stratification:

Airway: Mallampati score, thyromental distance, neck mobility.

Cardiovascular: Hypertension, arrhythmias, ischemic heart disease.

Respiratory: Obstructive sleep apnoea, COPD, asthma.

Coagulation Status: Bleeding risk, anticoagulant therapy.

- Optimisation of Medical Conditions:

Diabetes, renal failure, liver disease, anemia.

Pre-medications as per ASA guidelines.

2. AIRWAY & BREATHING: ENSURING AIRWAY SECURITY

- Detailed Airway Assessment – Identify potential difficult airway predictors and plan for alternatives.

- Airway Equipment Readiness:

Standard: Laryngoscope, endotracheal tubes, supraglottic airway (LMA).

Advanced: Video laryngoscope, fiberoptic bronchoscope, bougie, cricothyrotomy kit.
- Suction System Check – Ensure readiness in case of regurgitation or difficult intubation.
- Ventilation System:

Verify functional oxygen supply & backup cylinders.

Test circuit integrity & confirm ventilator settings.

3. ANAESTHESIA MACHINE CHECK: FUNCTIONAL SAFETY VERIFICATION

- Pre-use Machine Self-Test – Perform a full system check, including:

Oxygen, nitrous oxide, air flowmeter functionality.

Vaporiser levels (sevoflurane, isoflurane, desflurane).

Leak test of circuit & tubing.
- Scavenging System Check – Confirm proper waste gas removal to prevent OR pollution.

- Manual & Mechanical Ventilation Check – Ensure both modes function correctly.

4. ADVANCED MONITORING SETUP

- Standard ASA/AAGBI Monitoring:

ECG – Detect arrhythmias, ischemia.

Pulse Oximetry – Ensure continuous SpO₂ monitoring.

Non-Invasive Blood Pressure (NIBP) – Baseline BP measurement.

Capnography (EtCO₂) – Confirm airway patency and ventilation adequacy.

- Invasive Monitoring (For High-Risk Patients):

Arterial Line – Real-time BP monitoring.

Central Venous Pressure (CVP) Monitoring – Fluid management & vasopressor guidance.

- Neuromuscular Monitoring (For Paralysis Management).

5. INTRAVENOUS ACCESS & DRUG PREPARATION

- Secure IV Access:

Minimum one large-bore cannula (16G or 18G).

Additional lines for major surgeries or unstable patients.

- Ensure All Anaesthetic Drugs Are Prepared:

Induction Agents: Propofol, etomidate, ketamine.

Neuromuscular Blockers: Succinylcholine, rocuronium, atracurium.

Opioids & Analgesia: Fentanyl, remifentanil, paracetamol.

Emergency Drugs: Atropine, ephedrine, phenylephrine, adrenaline, naloxone, sugammadex.
- Confirm Dose Calculation & Syringe Labeling to Prevent Drug Errors.

6. CRISIS PREPARATION & EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT CHECK

- Difficult Airway Cart Available:

Video laryngoscope, fiberoptic bronchoscope, LMA, cricothyrotomy kit.

- Defibrillator & Emergency Drugs Ready:

Resuscitation trolley accessible in case of cardiac arrest or anaphylaxis.

- Massive Transfusion Protocol (MTP) Ready for High-Risk Cases.

- Ensure Anaphylaxis, Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) Management Plan.

7. FINAL TEAM BRIEFING & SAFETY CHECKS

- Confirm Surgical Plan, Anticipated Difficulties, and Backup Strategies.

- Assign Roles & Responsibilities for Anaesthesia Team.

- Review WHO Surgical Safety Checklist (Sign-in, Time-out, Sign-out).

- Ensure Clear Communication Between Anaesthesia, Surgical, and Nursing Teams.

CONCLUSION

An advanced anaesthesia cockpit drill ensures systematic preparation, reduces human errors, and enhances patient safety. By adopting a structured, evidence-based approach, anaesthetists can improve procedural efficiency, anticipate complications, and deliver optimal perioperative care.

02/04/2024

(Full Option) Datex Ohmeda 9100c NXT Anesthetic Machine. With Tec 820 Vaporizers with it unique fillers. Superlative functional Ventilator and optimistic screen. Patient’s monitoring equipment attached for effective and efficient multi-parametres functional for easy inspection of Patients vitals before, during and after each anesthesia and surgical procedures. We recommend it for all administration of safe anesthesia practices global standard. Peace of mind for anesthetist

11/28/2023

03/17/2023

Finally getting some recognition for what we do!!!

Meet Sebastian Pulido, a certified anesthesia technologist. He explains his critical position he holds in the operating room of a hospital.

10/16/2022

Happy World Anaesthesia Day 2022

10/10/2022

To create awareness of our professional input and to celebrate ourselves in the league of anaesthesia team. decided to celebrate this year "GLOBAL SELFIE ACTION CELEBRATION".

World Federation Anaesthesia Technologists and Technicians Societies would like all Anaesthesia Technologists and Technicians globally to take a group selfie action picture and post it to this link below

https://lnkd.in/dQsJ5hev

It's time to celebrate ourselves globally.

05/13/2022

WFATS: Benefits Of Compulsively Having In Place By Employing Anaesthesia Technologists/Technicians In Every Healthcare Facilities Globally.

A proper way of getting things right in any given time in every organisation is a goal achieved, so also compulsively, having an Anaesthesia Technologists/Technicians (Anaesth Techs) in every healthcare facilities global is a successful investment for all medical facilities.

In this article, we will be discussing about the many benefits of compulsively having in place by employing anaesthesia technologists/technicians in every healthcare facilities globally and also who professionally handing the anaesthesia machines and equipment for better usage, maintenance and proper troubleshooting test.

Imagine acquiring and investing heavily on anaesthetic machines and other anaesthetic equipment, without haven’t employed any or just having less anaesthesia technologists/technicians in any healthcare centre globally. Thus, this give access to other healthcare professionals, that are unskilled technically, to handle the machines and equipment. Abusively, such can only be devastating or frustrate the workflow of the system in such healthcare facilities.

To have an anaesthesia technologists/technicians in every healthcare facilities compulsorily, across the globe, can be really helpful, giving a professional approach to the use and maintenance of the anaesthesia machines and equipment with the skills acquired. In today's healthcare professional practices worldwide, opting for an anaesthesia technologists/technicians (Anaesth Techs) been gainfully responsible for such a section is a huge save for financial cost for every medical centre. And this model is an attractive concept.

The wrong idea of cutting down on training for the anaesthesia technologists/technicians on anaesthesia machines and equipment is what, however causing the drastic porosity of equipment management and increased the risk of breakdown or damage of the machines or equipment in healthcare. Which weakened the workflow in surgery and anaesthesia service delivery oftentimes. Instead of cutting down costs of training on anaesthesia technologists / technicians when necessary, always initiate a platform such as “continuous professional education” which will only improve and develop the anaesthesia technologists / technicians already experienced to matched up newly innovative technologies required based on the advanced and modern anaesthesia machines and equipment technology. Thus, allowing the system to get back to what it do best by providing quality care to all patients.

While the benefits of purchasing anaesthesia machines and equipment are wide-reaching, it's also important to understand that these advantages only apply to properly management and maintaining the machines and equipment by anaesthesia technologists/technicians. Because, not all healthcare professionals are comparable in experience, skill, and trust-worthiness.

To avoid the pitfalls of allowing the wrong healthcare professionals to handle the machines and equipment for a sub-par service delivery. To make sure you're getting the best out of ever anaesthesia machine and equipment, you need to ensure to have the professional working policies in place. Such implementation, will be good drive for the anaesthesia technologists/technicians in every healthcare facilities to focus on the responsibilities of equipment maintenance management. Who will also put in time to learn and have acquired experience in anaesthesia machine and equipment. The anaesthesia technologists/technicians (Anaesth Techs) are dedicated and have significant amount of professional skills to handle anaesthesia machines and equipment.

Therefore, it is an expedient for all healthcare facilities, both in government or private healthcare centres across the globe, to compulsively have by gainfully employed anaesthesia technologists/ technicians that have been certified and skills specifically relating to anaesthesia machines, and also have maintain a dedicated area to anaesthesia equipment troubleshooting and testing.

Additional benefit in having a anaesthesia technologists/technicians in any hospital, has time to perfect workflow protocol and process at every given stage. Such level of confidence and reliability gives the anaesthesia technologists/technicians to evaluate, maintain, troubleshooting, repair, and test all aspects of the anaesthesia machines and equipment.

05/02/2022

May Your Life Speaks Peace And Love Among Others And In The Entire World...

Happy Eid el-Fitr

أتمنى أن تتحدث حياتك عن السلام والمحبة من بين الآخرين وفي العالم بأسره

عيد فطر سعيد

04/30/2022

WFATS: Proposition of a Compulsory Adequate Training Program For Anaesthesia Technologists and Technicians, Before Using Advanced and Modern Anaesthesia Equipment and Devices in the Safe Practices of Anaesthesia Service Delivery.

REVIEW

WFATS are constituting of formal training and appraisal before using modern and advanced anaesthesia equipment and devices in anaesthesia safe service delivery globally.

This article aim to explores the attitudes, evidence, comparisons, and recommendations of training on modern, advanced devices and equipment in anaesthesia services delivery in line with global best practice.

The WFATS recently encounter and considered some number of principles that led to the evolution of “WFATS Vision 2025”, which states, “that anaesthesia technology professionals who practices advanced anaesthesia devices and equipment maintenance, installation, troubleshooting, and testing, which precisely affect patient’s vital functions and enhanced safety, can be certified with level of training antecedent to such clinical utilisation.

Including Factors:

a). The drastic increased of complex modern anaesthesia equipment and devices,

b). The prevalence of human avoidable error base on equipment-related incidents,

c). The inefficiency implicit in conventional in-service training, “On the bench training”

d). The known advantages of intensive training in complex tasks, and

e). The indications reflecting the deficiency of not completing a compulsory training.

The most effective attitude and approach to successfully attain such training is simple and thereby requires a cautious inquiry.

The goals for WFATS visions were to:

1. To define the problems and the deficiencies in conventional training,

2. To establish the limitations and impediments inherent in mandating training,

3. The description new approaches to training that will be more successful and certified.

4. Consider parallel endpoints and successes from other healthcare professionals model,

5. Exploring the medical jurisprudence and regulatory pressures guide such efforts, and

6. To initiate discussion that will promote and targeted efforts at implementation.

WFATS suggested that, it will be of a great ideal to be a collective opinion, on a round table with great minds, which will involve anaesthesia technologists, anaesthesiologists, administrators, regulatory body, manufacturers and safety industries to participate. Approximately 25 persons in attendance. In other to addressed the above stated achievable goals.

This will continue in our next post on anaesthesia technology practices.

04/22/2022

WFATS: Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization of Anaesthetic Equipment.

The activity of germicides against microorganisms depends on a number of factors, some of which are intrinsic qualities of an organism and others, which are the chemical and external physical environment. Awareness of these factors, should lead to better use of disinfection and sterilization processes of anaesthetic equipment, devices and instruments.

Amount of Number and Areas of Microorganisms

All other conditions remaining constant, the larger the number of microbes, the more time a germicide needs to destroy all of them.

However, a researcher, Spaulding illustrated this linkage, when he employed identical test conditions and demonstrated that precisely took 30 minutes to kill 10 B. atrophaeus formerly known as (Bacillus subtilis) spores but 3 hours to kill 100,000 Bacillus atrophaeus spores.

This emphasizes the need for meticulous cleaning of all medical equipment, devices and instruments with soap and rinsed it under a running tap before disinfection and sterilization.

Reducing the number of microorganisms that must be inactivated through scrupulous cleaning, increases the margin or space of safety when the germicide is used according to the labeling and shortens the exposure time required to kill the entire microbial load.

Researchers also have shown that a mass or cluster cells are more difficult to inactivate than monodispersed cells.

Note this, that the areas of microorganisms also must be considered when factors affecting the potency of germicides are assessed.

Anaesthetic equipment or instruments with multiple pieces must be disassembled and equipment such as sets of laryngoscopy, endoscopes, etc. that have crevices, joints, and channels are more difficult to disinfect than that of the flat- surface equipment or instruments. Because pe*******on of the disinfectant of all parts of the equipment is more difficult.

Only medical instruments that has a flat surfaces, that has directly contact with the germicide will be disinfected. By this, it is advisable to leave no space, so that there must be no air pockets and the equipment must be completely immersed for the entire exposure period.

However, medical equipment manufacturers should be encouraged to produce equipment that will be engineered for ease cleaning and disinfection.

04/17/2022

Happy Easter Celebration To You And Everyone.