The Anaesthetic Machine

In this episode of The Surgical Checklist, Tony Jermy is joined by regular co-hosts David Huggins and Stan Swanepoel to explore the anaesthetic machine and breathing circuits from a practical perioperative perspective. Rather than focusing heavily on engineering theory, the discussion breaks down how ODPs interact with the machine in day-to-day theatre practice, the importance of machine checks, common breathing circuits encountered in anaesthetics, and the small details that can quickly become patient safety issues if missed.The episode is aimed at learners who may find the anaesthetic machine intimidating at first and focuses on simplifying key concepts, building confidence, and developing practical understanding through real-world discussion and clinical anecdotes from experienced practitioners.