Capacity Assessment of Medical Gas Pipeline System Components: Insight from a Public Tertiary Hospital in Northern India
Srivatsa Deshikulu, Sheetal Singh, Angel Rajan Singh, Anant Gupta, Laxmitej Wundavalli, Jitender SodhiAbstract
Objective:
This study evaluates the capacities of the control panel (gases), pumps, and compressors during the procurement of the Medical Gas Pipeline System (MGPS) for a 700-bed tertiary care teaching hospital in North India, a greenfield hospital project.
Methods:
It is an observational, cross-sectional, technical assessment carried out in a 700-bed tertiary care teaching cancer hospital from December 2019 to December 2021. A scientific approach was undertaken to calculate the capacity of the control panel (gases), pumps, and compressors, which involved a detailed review of national and international guidelines and a structured expert panel discussion involving 15 experts from 10 departments. This process facilitated consensus on the required capacities, customized to suit the healthcare organization’s needs. The system was subsequently procured and installed.
Results:
The calculated capacity of the control panel in L/min for O 2 , CO 2 , and N 2 O was 5280, 228, and 373, respectively. The calculated capacities of pumps in L/min for vacuum and Anesthetic Gas Scavenging Systems were 15,526 and 2080, respectively. The calculated capacity of the compressor in L/min for air was 16,200.
Conclusion:
A detailed systematic assessment of the control panel (gases), pumps, and compressors during the initial planning phase of the MGPS is a critical and one-time exercise. Proper planning can reap dual benefits in the long term, such as accommodating any surge in demand as witnessed during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and averting unanticipated retrofitting in the future.