title: Nitrogen purging of oxygen pipelines: an unusual cause of intraoperative hypoxia.
abstract: Intraoperative hypoxia occurred in two patients during the maintenance of the medical gas system. Engineers were purging oxygen pipelines with nitrogen to remove particulate debris but were unaware of a connection to operating room pipelines. This case illustrates the importance of communication between anesthesia providers and engineers servicing the gas system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Auburn Regional Medical Center, Washington 98002-9906, USA. aelizaga@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Elizaga
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Frerichs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology*; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010100:Oxygen
chemical_list: D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D010100:Oxygen