title: Central blood pooling as an explanation for lowered FRC during anaesthesia? Thigh volume measurements by plethysmography.
abstract: Segmental volumes of the thigh and the upper arm were measured by means of an air-filled plethysmograph before and during various anaesthesias. A small but significant fall in segmental volume was seen with the induction of anaesthesia with thiopentone. A further fall was observed during neurolept anaesthesia but not with halothane. Epidural and spinal anaesthesias caused no change in segmental thigh volume. The results suggest a redistribution of 50-150 ml blood from the extremities to the trunk during general anaesthesia. This redistribution may contribute to the well-known fall in FRC with general anaesthesia.
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000098:blood supply; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000758:Anesthesia; D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D005652:Functional Residual Capacity; D006801:Humans; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010991:Plethysmography; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013848:Thigh / Q000098:blood supply*; D013909:Thorax / Q000098:blood supply