I applaud Dr. Tewfik and Mr. Paschall for their recent ASA Monitor article “Supply Chain Concerns and the Effect on Health Care Systems: Essential Considerations for Anesthesia Providers” (ASA Monitor 2022;86:1-8). However, noticeably absent from their “Strategies to mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities” was any mention of switching to reusable products when they are available and safe.
Those of us who trained in the 1980s remember that most of our anesthesia equipment was reusable, and it worked just fine. Yes, it does require cleaning, but at least you have the device when you need it, irrespective of the supply chain issue of the day. The idea that everything needs to be thrown away after one use is a relatively recent concept. The switch to disposables was not just a matter of convenience for the user or perceived safety for the patient; single-use disposables are far more profitable for the...
