Anesthesia Technologist Practice Exam

What is the normal trip point to generate the wash cycle in an autotransfusion device's fill mode?

1. At the bottom of the bowl

2. Half an inch above the bowl

3. A quarter inch above the shoulder of the bowl

4. At the level of the cardiotomy reservoir

The correct answer is: A quarter inch above the shoulder of the bowl

The normal trip point to generate the wash cycle in an autotransfusion device's fill mode is established as a quarter inch above the shoulder of the bowl. This specific height is critical because it ensures that the bowl has sufficient volume of processed blood to begin the washing process without risk of over-filling or under-filling, which could compromise the efficiency of the autotransfusion. When the fill mode is activated, the autotransfusion device utilizes this trip point to monitor the filling level accurately. It signifies the optimal point where the wash cycle should initiate to effectively remove any unwanted components or debris from the collected blood, thereby enhancing the quality of the reinfused blood for the patient. Establishing the trip point too low, such as at the bottom of the bowl, could lead to unnecessary activations of the wash cycle before adequate volume is available, whereas positioning it at half an inch above the bowl may not align with optimal performance criteria set by the device’s design. The cardiotomy reservoir level, while relevant in a different context of blood collection and management, does not serve as the effective trip point for initiating the wash cycle in the fill mode of the autotransfusion device.