Increased ventilation requirements during obstetric general anaesthesia.
The inspiratory fresh gas flow rate (FGF) required to produce an end-tidal carbon dioxide tension (PE'CO2) of 4 kPa during general anaesthesia, neuromuscular blockade and artificial ventilation, was compared in a group of 46 obstetric patients and a matched group of 50 non-pregnant female patients. The non-pregnant patients required a mean (SD) inspiratory FGF of 77 (10.6) ml kg-1 min-1, whereas the pregnant patients required a mean FGF of 121 (24.6) ml kg-1 min-1 before delivery (in those who reached a stable state), and 109 (19.3) ml kg-1 min-1 after delivery. These represent significant (P less than 0.0001) increases of 57% and 42%, respectively, over the non-pregnant state.
Rampton
A J
AJ
Department of Anaesthesia, University College Hospital, London.
Mallaiah
S
S
Garrett
C P
CP
D000328:Adult; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D001824:Body Constitution; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012119:Respiration; D012121:Respiration, Artificial
D002245:Carbon Dioxide