The purpose of an Anaesthetic Gas Scavenger System (AGSS) is to eliminate the risk of exposure to excess and waste anaesthetic gases. Usually these environments can be enclosed spaces such as operating theatres.
A gas scavenger system will collect gas or aerosolized medicine that is being used soley with a patient and not intended for the surrounding medical personnel providing a layer of protection. Side effects of anaesthetic gas inhalation could include dizziness, disorientation and nausea.
In the UK it is required by law that waste gases are scavenged to regulate the levels of excess gases in operating theatres below the legal limit.
United Kingdom gas level limits are:
- 100ppm for nitrous oxide
- 50ppm for halogenated volatile anaesthetic agents (apart from halothane at 10ppm)