Implementation of Canadian Standards Association Z168.3-M 1980 Anaesthetic Gas Machine Standard: the Manitoba experience.

The Province of Manitoba Anaesthetic Machine Program, completed in June 1980, accommodated Canadian Standards Association Standard Z168.3-M 1980. "Continuous Flow Inhalation Anesthetic Apparatus (Anesthetic Machines) for Medical Use". The goal of the program was to have all anaesthetic machines in hospitals in the province with the same basic design and safety features: "oxygen right"; characteristic oxygen knob profile; oxygen supply pressure failure device and alarm; standardized "oxygen flush" mechanism; pipeline inlets and pressure gauges; uniform color coding; standardized common gas outlet; pin indexed cylinder yokes; descriptive labels concerning safety devices; check valves within machine piping. Open group-purchase tenders were invited for both machine upgrading and replacement. Of 212 machines surveyed, 127 were upgraded (cost $100,000), 65 were replaced (cost $175,000), three were already satisfactory, and 17 were no longer required and were removed permanently from service. The Manitoba Program provided a satisfactory solution to a most important problem.