Xenon expenditure and nitrogen accumulation in closed-circuit anaesthesia.
The high price of xenon has prevented its use in routine, clinic anaesthetic practice. Xenon therefore has to be delivered by closed-circuit anaesthesia. The accumulation of nitrogen is a significant problem within the closed circuit and necessitates flushing, which in turn increases gas expenditure and costs. In previous investigations, nitrogen concentrations between 12% and 16% have been reported in closed-circuit anaesthesia. In order to avoid such nitrogen accumulation, we denitrogenised seven pigs using a non-rebreathing system and connected the animals to a system primed with a xenon/oxygen mixture. In comparison, seven pigs were anaesthetised with xenon using a standard low-flow anaesthetic procedure. Anaesthesia time was 2 h. Nitrogen concentrations in the closed system ranged from 0.08 to 7.04% and were not significantly different from those observed during low-flow anaesthesia. Closed-circuit anaesthesia reduced the xenon expenditure 10-fold compared with low-flow anaesthesia.
Reinelt
H
H
Department of Cardiac Anaesthesia, University of Ulm, Postfach 3880, 89070 Ulm, Germany.
Marx
T
T
Schirmer
U
U
Schmidt
M
M
D000764:Anesthesia, Closed-Circuit; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D000818:Animals; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016527:Drug Costs; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D014978:Xenon / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D014978:Xenon; D009584:Nitrogen