Abstract

The economics and advantages of non-rebreathing (semiclosed) versus rebreathing ('closed') circuit enflurane anaesthesia in spontaneously breathing patients, anaesthetized for ophthalmic procedures usually lasting less than 1 hour, were investigated. An average of 42, 5 ml liquid enflurane was used per hour of anaesthesia with the non-rebreathing apparatus, a figure close to the calcuated approximate enflurane usage for the first hour of anaesthesia (42,0 ml). Approximately half this volume was required for anaesthesia via the vaporizer out of circle (VOC) rebreathing system (19,0 ml/h; P less than 0,001). A further significant decrease resulted with the use of the vaporizer in circle (VIC) system (13,5 ml/h; P less than 0.001), but the surgical conditions provided by the latter were less satisfactory. Actual enflurane utilization with both VOC and VIC was greater than that expected for the first hour of anaesthesia (calculated approximate usage 15,0 and 11,0 ml/h respectively). Enflurane anaesthesia with the vaporizer out of circle is recommended for routine surgical procedures.

View details for Web of Science ID A1977DU56500012

View details for PubMedID 918793