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Ch 22 · Monitoring & Equipment

OR Setup

Monitors, infusion pumps, drip concentrations, airway gear.

6 min read

Key Points

  • Set BP cuff to cycle q1 min for induction.
  • Set patient age and weight on the anesthesia machine — MAC is calculated automatically.
  • Use lean body weight for drips in obese patients (IBW = 22 × height²m, LBW = IBW × 1.2).
  • Common drip concentrations: phenylephrine 100 mcg/mL; norepinephrine/epinephrine 16 mcg/mL; vasopressin bolus 1 U/mL.
  • Have ETT + stylet + 10 mL syringe + laryngoscope + suction + AMBU ready before every case.

01Monitor Setup

  • BP cuff: cycle q1 min for induction (then q3–5 min once stable)
  • Add waveforms for arterial line, CVP, PAP as needed
  • Patient age and weight entered on monitor → machine auto-calculates MAC
  • Perfusion index = ratio of pulsatile to non-pulsatile flow; low PI = poor perfusion
  • PVI (or PPV if A-line) as surrogate for volume responsiveness
  • 500P ORs can route C-MAC video to room monitors

02Alaris Infusion Pump Basics

  • Power on → Options → Anesthesia mode → Enable
  • Channel select → Guardrails drugs (common meds) → enter patient weight → start rate
  • If not in Guardrails, search "All drugs"
  • Use lean body weight in obese patients (IBW = 22 × height²m; LBW = IBW × 1.2)
  • Pause to leave drips on standby
  • With ≥ 2 simultaneous drips, request fluid carrier from anesthesia tech

03Drip Concentrations — Opioids & Sedation

MedicationDilutionTypical infusion
Remifentanil1 mg / 20 mL = 50 mcg/mL0.05–0.2 mcg/kg/min
Sufentanil250 mcg / 50 mL = 5 mcg/mL0.1–0.5 mcg/kg/HR (often 0.3 → 0.2 → 0.1)
Dexmedetomidine0.2 mg / 50 mL = 4 mcg/mLLoad 1 mcg/kg over 10 min; 0.2–1 mcg/kg/h
Lidocaine500 mg (50 mL of 1%) into 50 mL syringe = 10 mg/mL1 mg/kg/h; check plasma level q8h

04Drip Concentrations — Pressors & Inotropes

MedicationDilutionTypical infusion
Phenylephrine40 mg / 250 mL = 160 mcg/mL (or 10 mg / 100 mL = 100 mcg/mL)0.2–1 mcg/kg/min
Norepinephrine4 mg / 250 mL = 16 mcg/mL0.02–0.1 mcg/kg/min
Vasopressin60 U / 100 mL = 0.6 U/mL (bolus syringe always 1 U/mL)0.01–0.04 U/min
Epinephrine4 mg / 250 mL = 16 mcg/mL0.02–0.1 mcg/kg/min
Dopamine400 mg / 250 mL = 1600 mcg/mL1–10 mcg/kg/min
Milrinone20 mg / 100 mL = 200 mcg/mLLoad 50 mcg/kg over 10 min; 0.125–0.5 mcg/kg/min

05Drip Concentrations — Antihypertensives

MedicationDilutionTypical infusion
Clevidipine25 mg / 50 mL = 0.5 mg/mL1–20 mg/h (bolus 0.05 mg)
Esmolol2500 mg / 250 mL = 10 mg/mL50–300 mcg/kg/min
Nicardipine25 mg / 250 mL = 0.1 mg/mL1–15 mg/h (bolus 50–100 mcg)
Nitroglycerin50 mg / 250 mL = 200 mcg/mL0.1–1 mcg/kg/min
Nitroprusside50 mg / 250 mL = 200 mcg/mL0.1–1 mcg/kg/min

06Minimum Airway Setup

Before EVERY case have ready: - ETT with stylet and 10 mL syringe for cuff - Video and/or standard laryngoscope with appropriate blades - Suction (Yankauer) with working canister - Bag-mask with reservoir + O₂ - Backup ETT (smaller and bigger) - LMA as backup - Oral and nasal airways - Capnography confirmed working - Difficult airway cart known location

References & Further Reading

  1. 1

    American Society of Anesthesiologists. Standards for Basic Anesthetic Monitoring. Last amended October 2020. asahq.org/standards-and-guidelines.

  2. 2
    Textbook

    Gropper MA, Miller RD, Cohen NH, et al., eds. Miller's Anesthesia. 9th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2020.

  3. 3
    Textbook

    Adriano A, Morris R, eds. 2021 CA-1 Tutorial Textbook (15th Ed.). Stanford University Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology.

Citations are provided to direct further study. Always check the most current edition of guidelines and society recommendations — the information in this chapter is a teaching summary, not primary source material.