title: Arterial to end-tidal carbon dioxide tension difference during anaesthesia in early pregnancy.
abstract: Sixteen patients requiring general anaesthesia for termination of pregnancy by dilatation and evacuation of the uterus were studied. Arterial and end-tidal carbon dioxide tensions were determined during anaesthesia. The mean arterial to end-tidal carbon dioxide tension difference was 0.07 kPa (-0.02-0.16, 5-95 per cent confidence limits). These results were similar to those observed during Caesarean section and those during anaesthesia for post-delivery tubal ligations. The physiological changes such as increased cardiac output, haemodilution, and increased blood volume which manifest by 12 weeks of gestation probably result in a reduced (a-E')PCO2 value.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of West Indies, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Barbados.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Shankar
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moseley
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vemula
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramasamy
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000328:Adult; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide