Sevoflurane anesthesia in horses may contribute to a shorter, safer recovery from anesthesia.

Manual inflation of the lungs should be avoided (before tracheal intubation) when rapid sequence induction is performed. This teaching is applied to all patients at risk from the dangers of a full stomach, particularly in obstetric practice. Unless hypoxia supervenes, manual ventilation is contraindicated on two grounds. First, if cricoid pressure has been inadequately applied (a not uncommon situation (Howells et al., 1983)), silent regurgitation may occur and gastric contents be forced into the lungs. Second, and more importantly, it has been stated that manual inflation of the lungs can lead to gaseous distension of the stomach and further predispose to vomiting or regurgitation, or both (Snow, 1963). With the use of adequate preoxygenation and a rapidly-acting depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent, manual ventilation of the lungs before intubation is not usually required. Under certain circumstances, however, the patient's oxygen reserves may be insufficient as, for example, during failed or delayed intubation-particularly when the oxygen reserves are decreased (low FRC) (Nunn, 1977), or when oxygen consumption is increased as during pregnancy (Archer and Marx, 1974), thyrotoxicosis or fever. Similarly, when suxamethonium is contraindicated, the speed of onset of a non-depolarizing agent may be adequate to allow intubation before the exhaustion of the oxygen reserves. Recently, the "priming" principle has been described (Gergis et al., 1983; Foldes, 1984; Miller, 1985; Schwarz et al., 1985). A nondepolarizing agent is used as an alternative to suxamethonium when this agent is contraindicated for rapid sequence induction. The principle E. G.

An investigation was carried out into the relationship between the inflation pressures of normally compliant lungs and the airways pressure necessary to produce the insufflation of gas to the stomach. This relationship was examined during manual ventilation with a mask, using a rapid sequence induction technique. In the absence of cricoid pressure the lungs of all the patients could be ventilated "gently" satisfactorily by hand without gas entering the stomach. In only half of the patients could gas be redirected to the stomach when maximal inflation pressures were generated. It was not possible to cause gas to enter the stomach in any patient with a patent airway when cricoid pressure was applied.

Manual inflation of the lungs should be avoided (before tracheal intubation) when rapid sequence induction is performed. This teaching is applied to all patients at risk from the dangers of a full stomach, particularly in obstetric practice. Unless hypoxia supervenes, manual ventilation is contraindicated on two grounds. First, if cricoid pressure has been inadequately applied (a not uncommon situation (Howells et al., 1983)), silent regurgitation may occur and gastric contents be forced into the lungs. Second, and more importantly, it has been stated that manual inflation of the lungs can lead to gaseous distension of the stomach and further predispose to vomiting or regurgitation, or both (Snow, 1963). With the use of adequate preoxygenation and a rapidly-acting depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent, manual ventilation of the lungs before intubation is not usually required. Under certain circumstances, however, the patient's oxygen reserves may be insufficient as, for example, during failed or delayed intubation-particularly when the oxygen reserves are decreased (low FRC) (Nunn, 1977), or when oxygen consumption is increased as during pregnancy (Archer and Marx, 1974), thyrotoxicosis or fever. Similarly, when suxamethonium is contraindicated, the speed of onset of a non-depolarizing agent may be adequate to allow intubation before the exhaustion of the oxygen reserves. Recently, the "priming" principle has been described (Gergis et al., 1983; Foldes, 1984; Miller, 1985; Schwarz et al., 1985). A nondepolarizing agent is used as an alternative to suxamethonium when this agent is contraindicated for rapid sequence induction. The principle E. G.