Vet1 Flowmaster Upgraded Safety Scavenge Valve

Unfortunately, most of us in veterinary medicine know of a pet that died as a result of a closed pop-off valve. This risk has understandably created a fear of closed pop-off valves in veterinarians and technicians. From our experience working with hundreds of veterinary practices, I know that using SPOVs reduces stress for staff. SPOVs facilitate safe deliver of breaths to anesthetized pets. And SPOVs facilitate leak checking of endotracheal tubes during anesthesia. For these reasons, we recommend that the rebreathing circuits on every anesthesia machine be outfitted with a SPOV.

The SPOV differs from the standard pop-off valve because it has an internal pressure release mechanism that allows the anesthetist to easily and momentarily close the valve. Standard pop-off valves require the anesthetist to manually twist a screw-type plunger several rotations in order to fully close. This process takes more than a moment's time and then the valve must be manually - and fully- unscrewed. If the valve remains closed or partially closed, excess pressure builds up in the patient's lungs.

During a routine anesthetic event, an anesthetist will typically close the pop-off valve to deliver a breath to the patient and to check the endotracheal tube for leaks. If a patient is not breathing well, the anesthetist may close and open the pop-off valve repeatedly in order to manually breathe for the patient. Each time the valve is screwed closed there is the potential for a distraction to divert the operator's attention from the closed valve - even for a few moments - and life-threatening pressure can build up.

Too many pets die and come in harm's way due to closed pop-off valves during anesthesia.

The SPOV does 3 things that are NOT accomplished by standard pop-off valves with or without spring-type closure adapters attached.

1) The SPOV only closes when the anesthetists is physically depressing the valve plunger. When the anesthetist takes their hand away, the valve immediately returns to the open position. There is no way to forget to open the valve. There is no way to leave the valve partially closed.

2) The SPOV does not leak anesthetic gases during operation.

3) Even when the SPOV is in the closed position (as when delivering a breath), a pressure release mechanism exists that prevents buildup of excessive pressure. The SPOV will still pop open if excess pressure is delivered to the patient.

Other adapters have been created by several companies that can be added onto existing standard pop-off valves. These adapters incorporate a spring-type closure mechanism and do facilitate momentary buildup of pressure in the system to deliver a breath. These adapters do not replace the pop-off valve - they are added onto the circuit. These adapters are not considered Safety Pop-off Valves because if the standard valve is closed the adapter provides no protection to the patient. They do not provide an independent pressure release mechanism.

Some adapters are leaky, many do not connect securely to the anesthesia machine, and the closure mechanism can fail over time resulting in a closed breathing circuit - effectively a closed pop-off valve even when a "safety" adapter is in place.

Can be used with ventilators