title: [Intra-operative drop in sevoflurane and oxygen concentrations. Leakage of the ventilation system].
abstract: After problem-free induction of narcosis in an 84-year-old female patient an intra-operative drop in sevoflurane and oxygen concentrations occurred during low-flow anesthesia. Although the concentrations of sevoflurane and oxygen in the fresh gas flow were increased no adequate elevation of the inspiratory concentrations could be achieved. Disconnection of the Dräger Primus IE manual bag-valve-mask could be identified as the cause of the drop in concentrations. Interestingly no error alarm function was initiated. This case demonstrates how important knowledge of the function, set-up and alarm conditions of respiratory machines is. This should be an important component of training in anesthesiology as well as securely established algorithms for difficult ventilation to ensure safe anesthesia despite technical failures.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin, Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg. m.roiss@uke.uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roiss
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bremer
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000097:blood*; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D056902:Clinical Alarms; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000097:blood*; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D000077149:Sevoflurane