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Medical
Gas Cylinders Key To Colours + Information
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Oxygen
Black body
White Shoulder
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Uses
Oxygen is used extensively in medical practice to increase
oxygenation in patients with acute and chronic lung disease and
cardiac disorders, for resuscitation, and for the treatment of
victims of poisoning. It is always administered during
anaesthesia.
Administration
Oxygen is administered by mask, tent, endotracheal tube, nasal catheter
and by special equipment for prolong treatment. Masks are used
for controlled flows which may give concentrations over 60% by
volume. Tents are used when the concentration need not exceed
50% by volume. Nasal catheters provide concentrations up to 30%,
dependent on how far up the nares they penetrate. Respiratory facemasks
are used to provide oxygen concentrations of approximately 30%
of inhaled air.
Humidification of the gas may be needed when nasal catheters are
used with a flow rate of over 3 liters a minute.
Dependent on whether masks, tents or nasal catheters are used
the flow rate is determined by the clinician
Cylinders should only be used in conjunction with medical oxygen
gas pressure regulators.
Health Hazard Information
At normal atmospheric pressures, oxygen is non toxic up to about
20 hours exposure. At increasing pressures, oxygen becomes toxic
to the lungs and central nervous system.
Contraindications
Newly born and premature infants should be given oxygen only
if absolutely necessary because of the risk of the development
of retinal damage.
Patients who have chronic respiratory disease with carbon
dioxide retention may develop apnoea if given oxygen, due to the
reduction in stimulation of the respiratory system by carbon
dioxide.
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Nitrous Oxide
Blue Body
Blue Shoulder
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Uses
Nitrous oxide is a non irritating anaesthetic gas, used as a
carrier for the volatile anaesthetics, it may be used to
insufflate body cavities and in cryosurgery as a refrigerant. It
can also be used as an analgaesic
Administration
Nitrous oxide should only be administered by medical personnel
trained in the appropriate techniques.
Cylinders should only be used in conjunction with medical
nitrous oxide gas pressure regulators.
Health Hazard Information
Nitrous oxide does not support life and when used for anaesthesia
an adequate oxygen concentration must be achieved.
Because it is much more soluble than nitrogen, nitrous oxide
will diffuse into air filled body cavities much faster than
nitrogen will diffuse out, increasing the pressure within them.
Administration of nitrous oxide will, if continued for some
hours, result in some inactivation of vitamin b12. If
administration is frequent, say every 2 days, this can result in
megloblastic changes in bone marrow.
Addiction can occur. After a substantial period of time signs
similar to those of sub acute combined degeneration of the
spinal chord may develop.
The suggested limits for continuous exposure range between
25-400ppm
Absolute Contraindications
High and low atmospheric pressures.
Unconsciousness
Decompression sickness or recent dive>
Recent air instillation or insufflation into body cavities as in
air encephalography or artificial pneumothorax.
The first sixteen weeks of pregnancy
Care is required in the following conditions
Sedated patients
The very young and old due to mask fitting difficulties
Bowel obstruction
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Entonox
Blue Body
Blue + White Shoulder
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Uses
Entanox is used for pain relief in many situations e.g..
Obstetrics, accidents / orthopedics and minor surgical
procedures.
Administration
Normally self administered using an Entonox inhalation unit
operating on a demand principal, delivering Entanox at about
atmospheric pressure. The doseage is limited by the mouthpiece
falling away from the patients face at the onset of drowsiness.
Health Hazard Information
Because it is much more soluble than nitrogen, nitrous oxide
will diffuse into air filled body cavities much faster than
nitrogen will diffuse out, increasing the pressure within them.
In normal short term analgaesic use Entonox is very effective
and harmless, Administration of nitrous oxide will, if continued
for some hours, result in some inactivation of vitamin b12. If
administration is frequent, say every 2 days, this can result in
megloblastic changes in bone marrow.
Addiction can occur. After a substantial period of time signs
similar to those of sub acute combined degeneration of the
spinal chord may develop.
The suggested limits for continuous exposure range between
25-400ppm
Contraindications
High and low atmospheric pressures.
Unconsciousness
Decompression sickness or recent dive>
Recent air instillation or insufflation into body cavities as in
air encephalography or artificial pneumothorax.
Severe bullous emphysema
traumatic or spontaneous pneumothorax
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Air
Grey Body
Black +White Shoulder
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Uses
As a power source for pneumatic medical equipment
In ventilators or incubators
In various systems as a gas carrier for volatile anaesthetic
agents.
In self contained breathing apparatus.
Administration
Through gas pressure regulator directly into pneumatic medical
equipment, ventilators and incubators
By mask at low pressure where air is used as a carrier or in
breathing systems.
Cylinders should only be used in conjunction with medical air
gas pressure regulators.
Health Hazard Information
Contraindications
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Oxygen + Carbon dioxide
Black Body
White + Green Shoulder
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Uses
Oxygen / Carbon dioxide mixtures are used as a stimulant to the
respiratory centre.
Administration
Usually by mask or endotracheal tube.
Cylinders should only be used in conjunction with medical oxygen
gas pressure regulators.
Health Hazard Information
Oxygen / Carbon dioxide mixtures have similar toxicity to
oxygen, but at normal atmospheric pressures the mixtures will
induce a marked increase in breathing rate.
The mixture should not be used at pressures above normal
atmospheric pressure.
Contraindications
Newly born and premature infants should be given oxygen only if
absolutely necessary because of the risk of the development of
retinal damage.
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Helium + Oxygen
Black Body
White and Brown Shoulder
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Uses
The low density of helium compared to nitrogen enables it
provide a substitute for air when mixed with oxygen which is
easier to breath in obstructive or dystrophic chest disease.
Administration
By mask or endotracheal tube
Cylinders should only be used in conjunction with medical oxygen
gas pressure regulators
Health Hazard Information
Contraindications
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Helium
Brown Body
Brown Shoulder
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Uses
Helium is used in physiological investigations
The low density of helium compared to nitrogen enables it
provide a substitute for air when mixed with oxygen which is
easier to breath in obstructive or dystrophic chest disease.
Administration
By mask or endotracheal tube
Cylinders should only be used in conjunction with medical oxygen
gas pressure regulators
Health Hazard Information
Helium is an inert gas and will not support life. An adequate
concentration of oxygen must be ensured when helium is
administered.
Contraindications
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Carbon Dioxide
Grey Body
Grey Shoulder
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Uses
Gaseous carbon dioxide, when mixed with oxygen is used as a
stimulant to the respiratory centre.
Gaseous carbon dioxide is used in physiological investigations.
Solid carbon dioxide is used in tissue freezing techniques.
Administration
Carbon dioxide should only be administered by medical personnel
trained in the appropriate techniques.
Cylinders should only be used in conjunction with medical carbon
dioxide gas pressure regulators.
Health Hazard Information
Carbon dioxide regulates the rate of breathing. The occupational
exposure limit is 5000 ppm. As the concentration of carbon dioxide
rises so dose the rate of breathing, at 2% the rate is noticeably
above normal, at 10 breathing is very rapid, headache vomiting
and death may occur in an unfit person, 15% will cause
unconsciousness in a few minutes, 25% leads to rapid circulatory
insufficiency and death.
Contraindications
Acidosis.
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Cyclopropane
Orange Body
Orange Shoulder
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Uses
Cyclopropane is potent anaesthetic producing good muscular
relaxation.
Administration
Cyclopropane should only be administered by anesthetists trained
in the use of Cyclopropane.
Health Hazard Information
Cardiac irregularities are possible if atropine or
catechelomines are used with Cyclopropane, nausea vomiting and a
degree of hypotension are common post operatively.
Contraindications
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