2026 Anesthesia Equipment and Pharmacology Reference

Anesthesia equipment can fail at the worst possible time. A technologist who does not understand why a vaporizer leaks, a breathing circuit becomes obstructed, or a piece of equipment malfunctions may not be able to protect the patient effectively during a procedure.

Certification exam candidates and practicing anesthesia technologists face a common challenge: important information is spread across manufacturer manuals, outdated training materials, and exam-preparation resources that often explain what to do without explaining why it works. Simply memorizing procedures is not enough. Technologists need to understand how equipment works, what causes failures, and how those failures can affect the patient.

This 2026 edition provides a complete, easy-to-understand reference covering 25 chapters. It explains the anatomy and operation of anesthesia machines, vaporizers, and breathing circuits, as well as airway equipment ranging from basic masks to difficult-airway carts. It also covers patient monitoring, vascular access, regional anesthesia equipment, sterilization procedures, and the four major classes of perioperative pharmacology.

Key features include:

Each chapter begins with a clinical situation that continues throughout the chapter, showing how equipment knowledge affects real clinical decisions.
Mechanism Map sections explain the cause, process, effect, and clinical signs of serious events such as malignant hyperthermia and anaphylaxis.
Clinical pearls, comparison tables, and quick-reference sections make important information easier to review.
Each chapter includes two custom clinical illustrations with clear labels to help readers identify structures and equipment accurately.
A free companion video course includes more than 100 selected instructional videos. Readers can access the videos by scanning the QR code on the final pages.
A dedicated final chapter explains the certification exam structure, study strategies, and long-term career opportunities.

Written by a practicing anesthesia clinician, this manual goes beyond simple memorization. It focuses on the practical understanding that certification exams require and that operating rooms demand every day.

Whether you are preparing for a technician or technologist certification, or you want to improve your knowledge of anesthesia equipment while working in the field, this book provides one current, practical, mechanism-based reference for 2026.

Scan the QR code on the final page to get immediate access to the complete companion video course.