The anesthesia machine is a very important piece of medical equipment as it is used to support the administration of anesthesia. Many modern day operations such as cesareans, hernia and appendicitis are done under anesthesia.

The most commonly used anesthesia machine is the continuous-flow anesthetic machine. This type of anesthesia machine is designed to provide an accurate and continuous supply of oxygen and nitrous oxide to the patient. Modern anesthesia machines usually incorporate a ventilator, suction unit and a patient monitoring device.

All aesthesia machines are connected to piped hospital oxygen, and nitrous oxide. A high flow oxygen pump in the anesthesia machine provides pure oxygen at 30 liters per minute and also regulates that the flow is uniform.

The anesthesia machines are attached to anesthesia vaporizers to accurately  add volatile anesthetics to the fresh gas flow, a ventilator, a physiological monitor to monitor the patient's heart rate,  ECG machine, blood pressure monitor and oxygen saturation monitor. A lot of anesthesia machines also have breathing circuits and a heat and moisture exchanger.

The anesthesia machine was first invented by British anesthetist H.E.G. Boyle in 1917. Prior to this year, anesthetists had to carry equipment such as oxygen cylinders and airway equipment with them.

Modern anesthetic machine have several features to ensure patient safety. This includes an oxygen failure alarm, in case the cylinder is low on oxygen. Modern anesthesia machines also have hypoxic mixture alarms to prevent gas mixtures which contain less than 21% oxygen being delivered to the patient. In modern machines, oxygen is automatically added to the fresh gas flow.

Anesthesia machines these days are also equipped with alarms on all the above physiological monitors, Pin Index Safety System to prevent the cylinders from accidentally being connected to the wrong yoke and pipeline gas hoses that have non exchangeable valves to prevents hoses from being accidentally plugged into the wrong wall socket

Anesthesia machines are a feature of all modern day operating rooms. Even the most basic operating machine is equipped with an anesthesia device. Even though anesthesia devices come with several safety features, it is important that anesthetists check the functioning of the machine before they begin work for the day. Anesthesia machines also need to be serviced often for them to work to their maximum capacity.