1960
DOI: 10.1093/bja/32.4.171
|View full text |Cite
|
Sign up to set email alerts
|

Cardiac Arrest Following Administration of a High Concentration of Halothane Vapour

Abstract: A PATIENT suffered cardiac arrest after being subjected to intermittent positive-pressure respiration with an unsuspectedfy high concentration of halothane. The cardiac arrest was successfully treated and the high halothane concentration was found to be due to a mechanical fault in the vaporizer used in the anaesthetic circuit.

Help me understand this report

Search citation statements

Order By: Relevance

Paper Sections

Select...
1

Citation Types

0
3
0

Year Published

1962
1962
2008
2008

Publication Types

Select...
5

Relationship

0
5

Authors

Journals

citations
Cited by 7 publications
(3 citation statements)
references
References 13 publications
0
3
0
Order By: Relevance
“…Inhalational anaesthesia using VIC has many theoretical advantages, including minimising cost and minimising waste and atmospheric pollution, without compromising the quality of the anaesthetic. A major concern with VIC and controlled ventilation, however, is the unpredictable nature of vaporiser output and hence the risk of overdose leading to respiratory depression and possible cardiac arrest 9,10 . Mapleson 11 and White 12 described high concentrations of agent when using a VOC with low FGF.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Inhalational anaesthesia using VIC has many theoretical advantages, including minimising cost and minimising waste and atmospheric pollution, without compromising the quality of the anaesthetic. A major concern with VIC and controlled ventilation, however, is the unpredictable nature of vaporiser output and hence the risk of overdose leading to respiratory depression and possible cardiac arrest 9,10 . Mapleson 11 and White 12 described high concentrations of agent when using a VOC with low FGF.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Soon after the introduction of halothane into clinical practice, there were a number of reports of cardiac arrest occurring under halothane anaesthesia. Ten of these cases were reviewed by Baxter [1] who noted that, as far as could be determined, they were all associated with the combination of intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) and VIC. Information on FGF were not available with these case reports.…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…When the vaporizer is outside the circuit it must be efficient and accurate, and is therefore usually expensive. On occasion it may be dangerously liable to error and indeed a case of cardiac arrest has been reported by Baxter (1960) where a calibrated vaporizer had developed a fault which led to the delivery of concentrations 733 far in excess of those indicated. It has been pointed out by Johnstone (1961) that reference solely to the concentration of halothane issuing from a vaporizer does not warrant conclusions as to the probable effect on the patient.…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%