Respiratory flow characteristics during isoflurane/nitrous oxide anaesthesia

Abstract

Ventilatory characteristics during isoflurane anaesthesia and spontaneous breathing were studied in ten adults during surgery. After premedication with diazepam and induction with thiopental sodium and suxamethonium, 1.2% isoflurane in a 50% mixture of nitrous oxide in oxygen was introduced via a non-rebreathing circuit. Respiratory flow was measured by means of a pneumotachograph, arterial gases were sampled and carbon dioxide elimination and dead-space to tidal volume ratios (VD/VT) calculated. The time axis of one respiratory cycle was divided into 20 equidistant sections and the flow at the end of each section was expressed as a percentage of the maximum flow rate during inspiration and expiration, respectively. In this manner, a relative respiratory flow pattern was constructed. The total ventilation was 5.8 +/- 0.5 1.min-1 (mean +/- s.d.) with a tidal volume of 191 +/- 45 ml and a respiratory rate of 31 +/- 6.min-1. The PaCO2 was 7.2 +/- 0.6 kPa, the carbon dioxide elimination 151 +/- 38 ml (STPD) and VD/VT 0.53 +/- 0.12. The respiratory flow pattern showed early peak flows during both inspiration and expiration. The expiratory flow rate after 90% of the total respiratory cycle time was on average 43% of the maximum expiratory flow rate. The conclusion was that isoflurane seems to have a similar respiratory flow pattern to halothane. The significant hypercarbia that resulted is still acceptable but a lighter anaesthetic level is recommended for routine surgery.