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CD ROMs and Anesthesia Machines

Toronto, Ontario

At a recent conference I was given two free CD ROMs by the kind man at the Datex-Ohmeda booth. The first, bearing the pedestrian title "AS/3 Anesthesia Delivery Unit", uses Macromedia Director to provide an interactive multimedia presentation about their anesthesia machine. Although the CD ROM is very nicely done, it is still basically just a fancy marketing brochure, being well illustrated, and well narrated, but very short on technical detail. One advantage of providing marketing information in this way is that the per copy cost of producing a CD ROM can be much less than producing complex multicolour brochures that we associate with the marketing of high-technology medical products. Another advantage is that CD ROMs usually takes up less storage space. Incidentally, Datex-Ohmeda also use CD ROM technology for distributing all the technical manuals for their products. This means that it is easy to search electronically for obscure information and it even would be possible to provide video clips showing how correct disassembly and reassembly should be carried out.

The second CD ROM I received is much, much more than a marketing "throw away" and is entitled "The Evolution of the Anesthesia Machine". You will definitely want keep your copy of this CD ROM. This instructional product was conceived and developed by Drs. Ortega and Arkoff, both practitioners at Boston University at the time. It is a marvelous multimedia historical survey of the evolution of the technology used in our profession, and is again produced using Macromedia Director. This project was carried out in collaboration with the Wood Library Museum of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and was awarded first prize for being the outstanding scientific and educational exhibit at ASA annual meeting in 1998. Next month I will provide a complete review of this outstanding product. Meanwhile, if the history of our profession interests you, do try to get your own copy.

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