MEDICAL GASES

MEDICAL GASES

Introduction

·       Medical gases are used for diagnosis, therapy, and anesthesia in hospitals.

·       They are supplied in cylinders or through centralized pipeline systems.

Types of Medical Gases

S.No	Gas Name	Symbol
1	Oxygen	O₂
2	Nitrous Oxide	N₂O
3	Medical Air	—
4	Carbon Dioxide	CO₂
5	Helium	He
6	Nitrogen	N₂
7	Entonox (O₂ + N₂O mixture)	—
8	Compressed Air (surgical)	—
9	Vacuum (for suction)	—

Colour Codes of Medical Gas Cylinders (India – BIS Standard)

Gas Name	Cylinder Colour	Shoulder Colour
Oxygen (O₂)	Black	White
Nitrous Oxide	Blue	Blue
Carbon Dioxide	Grey	Grey
Medical Air	Black	Grey
Helium	Brown	Brown
Nitrogen	Black	Blue
Entonox	Blue + White quarters	Blue + White
Vacuum	Yellow	Yellow

Uses of Common Medical Gases

Gas	Uses
Oxygen	Respiratory therapy, emergencies, ICU, anesthesia
Nitrous Oxide	Analgesia & anesthesia, especially in dental/surgical settings
Medical Air	Breathing support, ventilators, surgical instruments
Carbon Dioxide	Insufflation in laparoscopic surgery, stimulation of respiration
Helium	Mixed with oxygen (Heliox) for airway obstruction, asthma, COPD
Nitrogen	Cryosurgery, preserving tissues/samples
Entonox	Pain relief in trauma, labor, emergency
Vacuum	Suction for surgeries, airway clearance

Properties of Medical Gases

Gas	Key Properties
Oxygen	Odorless, colorless, supports combustion
Nitrous Oxide	Sweet-smelling, non-flammable, supports combustion
Medical Air	Filtered, dry, odorless; contains ~21% oxygen
CO₂	Colorless, slightly acidic, heavier than air
Helium	Inert, low density, odorless
Nitrogen	Inert, colorless, used for freezing
Entonox	50% O₂ + 50% N₂O; stable mix; used for analgesia
Vacuum	Negative pressure system; suction generation

Purchase Procedure

1. Demand Estimation:
• Based on hospital bed strength, ICU requirements, OR usage.
• Usage trends from previous months.
2. Supplier Selection:
• Authorized vendors with ISO/BIS certification.
• Prefer long-term contracts with reliable delivery schedules.
3. Tender/Procurement Process:
• Quotation comparison (cost per cubic meter/liter, delivery, cylinder rent).
• Compliance with safety norms.
4. Inspection & Quality Check:
• Check color coding, expiry, purity level (>99.5% for O₂).
• Leak test, pressure test.
5. Documentation:
• Maintain purchase records, test certificates, and MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet).
6. Storage:
• Designated gas manifold room with ventilation.
• Cylinders stored upright, secured with chains.

Safety Measures & Precautions

Storage Safety:

• Cylinders should be stored in cool, well-ventilated areas.
• Keep away from flammable materials and direct sunlight.
• Separate storage for full and empty cylinders.
• Oxygen should never be stored with oil or grease — risk of explosion.

Handling Precautions:

• Trained personnel only to handle.
• Always use trolleys for transport — do not roll cylinders.
• Valves should be closed when not in use.
• No smoking in gas storage and use areas.
• Avoid mechanical shocks; cylinders should be chained/secured upright.

Usage Safety:

• Regular check of pressure regulators, pipelines, alarms.
• Pipeline systems should have color-coded lines and non-interchangeable connections.
• Use appropriate flow meters and humidifiers for oxygen therapy.
• Ensure backflow preventers and check valves are functional.

Emergency Protocols:

• Install gas leak detectors.
• Fire extinguishers & alarms in cylinder storage areas.
• Emergency shut-off valves in the pipeline system.
• Periodic safety drills and training for hospital staff.

Maintenance & Monitoring

• Daily logbooks for gas usage & stock.
• Cylinder testing (hydrostatic test every 5 years).
• Preventive maintenance of manifold system and alarms.
• Keep MSDS sheets for all gases in an accessible location.

Pipeline vs Cylinder Supply

Feature	Central Pipeline System	Cylinder Supply
Cost	High initial, low running	Low initial, high running
Safety	Safer, alarms inbuilt	Riskier, manual monitoring
Maintenance	Requires technical staff	Less maintenance
Used in	Medium & large hospitals	Small setups, backups

Video Description

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