title: Effects of carbon dioxide embolism with nitrous oxide in the inspired gas in piglets.
abstract: We have compared cardiorespiratory variables in anaesthetized piglets whose lungs were ventilated with oxygen in nitrous oxide (N2O group) or nitrogen (N group) after right ventricular carbon dioxide boluses (0.5 or 1 ml kg-1; n = 12) or slow graded injections (n = 6). Boluses affected all variables studied significantly (P < 0.05) except mean systolic arterial pressure. Significant changes in PE'CO2 (P = 0.012) and PaO2 (P = 0.048) values were observed in the N2O group. Changes in PaCO2 were related to volumes of injected carbon dioxide (P = 0.044). Boluses of 1.0 ml kg-1 induced severe circulatory collapse in two piglets in the N2O group. Slow embolization altered respiratory variables significantly (P < 0.001)). PaO2 decreased significantly in the N2O group (P < 0.0001). Mean pulmonary arterial pressure increased significantly over time (P = 0.001) and lasted longer in the N2O group (P < 0.05). Volumes and time required to induce a 50% increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure differed significantly between groups (P < 0.05). We conclude that nitrous oxide worsened the effects of rapid and slow carbon dioxide emboli on cardiopulmonary variables. Rapid carbon dioxide embolism altered respiratory and haemodynamic variables, while slow carbon dioxide embolism changed only respiratory variables.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Laboratory of the Department of Anaesthesiology, CUB Erasme, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Nyarwaya
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pierre
authors.forename: J X
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Mazoit
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Umbrain
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romain
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Samii
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: d'Hollander
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000502:physiology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010100:Oxygen / Q000502:physiology; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000187:drug effects; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D010100:Oxygen