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Continuous axillary brachial plexus block

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THE SOLUBILITY OF HALOTHANE in blood is influenced by several factors such as lipid) protein and haemoglobin concentrations, 2 and haematocrit. During cardiopulmonary bypass two other factors may alter halothane solubility; these are hypotbermia '*'s's and haemodilution.V The purpose of this study was to determine the blood concentration and the. blood/gas partition coefficient of halothane during cardiopulmonary bypass with haemodilution in conditions of hypothermia and normothermia. MATERIALS AND METHODThe study included six patients undergoing open-heart surgery for the correction of congenital anomalies with mild hypothermia (30 ~ C) and six patients undergoing open-heart surgery for acquired heart diseases under normothermia (36*-37 ~ C).A previously calibrated Fluotec Mark 1I vapourizer was inserted in line along the tubing delivering oxygen to a bubble oxygenator at a rate between 3 and 5 L/min in the paediatric hypothermic cases and between 6 and 8 L/min in the adult normothermic cases. Blood flow through the pump was maintained between 70 and 90 ml-kg -I-rain -t in the former and 50 to 70 ml. kg -t-rain -I in the latter. Arterial blood gases and acid-base balance were kept within normal limits throughout the study. In both groups, two different concentrations of halothane were studied during cardiopulmonary bypass; first, a low concentration consisting of 0.6 per cent was given; then the high concentration administered

In addition to offering further data on the exposure of surgical and recovery-room personnel to low levels of halothane in room air, the authors demonstrate the presence of halothane levels in the blood of some surgical patients managed by other inhalation agents from machines previously used for halothane. The authors concluded that these levels, while low, may be of clinical significance in selected patients.