title: Gas chromatographic determination of volatile anaesthetic agents in blood. Part 2. Clinical studies.
abstract: A method is described for the direct determination of the volatile anaesthetics halothane and isoflurane in blood by gas chromatography with flame-ionisation detection. The method is accurate and precise and allows rapid measurements of blood levels of anaesthetic agents. Headspace concentrations of anaesthetic agents in the concentration range 0-3% V/V are determined with an accuracy of +/- 0.01% V/V. The relative standard deviation of these results is less than 4.0%. A relatively small volume of blood is required for each determination, a factor of great significance in the treatment of children. The need for separate blood calibration graphs for each patient is discussed, further emphasising the need for a rapid calibration procedure. The results from the clinical application of this method show conclusively its suitability for the management of anaesthetised subjects.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masud
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: O'Keeffe
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Wren
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Shanahan
mesh_terms: D000777:Anesthetics / Q000097:blood*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005410:Flame Ionization; D006221:Halothane / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D007530:Isoflurane; D006221:Halothane