Preparation of the Dräger Fabius GS workstation for malignant hyperthermia-susceptible patients.
OBJECTIVE
In order to establish guidelines for the preparation of the Dräger Fabius GS premium anesthetic workstation for malignant hyperthermia-susceptible patients, the authors evaluated the effect of the workstation's exchangeable and autoclavable components on the washout of isoflurane.


METHODS
A Dräger Fabius GS workstation was primed with 1.5% isoflurane, and exchangeable components were replaced as follows: Group 1: no replacement (control); Group 2: autoclaved ventilator diaphragm and ventilator hose; Group 3: flushed ventilator diaphragm and ventilator hose; Group 4: autoclaved compact breathing system. The fresh gas flow (FGF) was set at 10 L . min(-1), and the concentration of isoflurane in the inspiratory limb of the circle breathing circuit was recorded every minute until an endpoint of 5.0 parts per million (ppm) was achieved, at which time the FGF was reduced to 3 L . min(-1). Six experiments were conducted in each of the four groups.


RESULTS
The time to achieve an isoflurane concentration of 5.0 ppm decreased in the following order: Group 1 (151 +/- 17 min) > Group 3 (137 +/- 7 min) > Group 4 (122 +/- 11 min) > Group 2 (42 +/- 6 min) (P < 0.01 vs control). Isoflurane concentration increased approximately fivefold when the FGF was reduced to 3 L . min(-1).


CONCLUSIONS
Anesthetic washout from the Dräger Fabius GS is relatively slow. Although washout was accelerated when the Dräger Fabius GS was equipped with autoclaved components, the reduction in washout time may be less than that required for this technique to be accepted into clinical practice. A dedicated vapor-free workstation may be preferable for rapid turnover between cases.
Whitty
Robert J
RJ
Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.
Wong
Gail K
GK
Petroz
Guy C
GC
Pehora
Carolyne
C
Crawford
Mark W
MW
D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000295:instrumentation; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008305:Malignant Hyperthermia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D007530:Isoflurane