Pre-Anesthetic Checklist

Abstract

With the advent of modern electronic anesthesia delivery systems, it is recognised that a single checkout recommendation is not applicable to all systems. Not only does equipment design differ, but the automated checkout procedures built into these systems may or may not check all of the items that require attention. Consequently, the guidelines below describe the items that should be checked prior to use, rather than how each item should be checked. The actual checklist to be used is dependent on the actual equipment and resources available at a specific anesthetising location. Departments of Anesthesia should consider developing checklists tailored to the actual equipment that is used in their department. As new anesthesia delivery systems are adopted, revised checkout procedures will be required.