title: Sudden interruption of gas flow through a Schrader oxygen coupler unit.
abstract: The flow of oxygen to an anaesthetic gas machine suddenly and completely stopped during the course of a general anaesthetic. The cause of the failure was traced to a Schrader oxygen coupler check unit. During servicing, one component of the check unit had inadvertently been replaced by a similar but inappropriate component. Interruption of oxygen flow resulted from a loss of contact between two components of the check unit. This incident raises questions about the basic design and safety of Schrader coupler check units.
mesh_terms: D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D010100:Oxygen; D011312:Pressure
chemical_list: D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D010100:Oxygen