title: Isocapnic hyperventilation shortens washout time for sevoflurane - an experimental in vivo study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Isocapnic hyperventilation (IHV) is a method that fastens weaning from inhalation anaesthesia by increasing airway concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) during hyperventilation (HV). In an animal model, we evaluated a technique of adding CO2 directly to the breathing circuit of a standard anaesthesia apparatus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight anaesthetised pigs weighing 28 ± 2 kg were intubated and mechanically ventilated. From a baseline ventilation of 5 l/min, HV was achieved by doubling minute volume and fresh gas flow. Respiratory rate was increased from 15 to 22/min. The CO2 absorber was disconnected and CO2 was delivered (DCO2 ) to the inspiratory limb of a standard breathing circuit via a mixing box. Time required to decrease end-tidal sevoflurane concentration from 2.7% to 0.2% was defined as washout time. Respiration and haemodynamics were monitored by blood gas analysis, spirometry, electric impedance tomography and pulse contour analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A DCO2 of 261 ± 19 ml/min was necessary to achieve isocapnia during HV. The corresponding FICO2 -level remained stable at 3.1 ± 0.3%. During IHV, washout of sevoflurane was three times faster, 433 ± 135 s vs. 1387 ± 204 s (P < 0.001). Arterial CO2 tension and end-tidal CO2 , was 5.2 ± 0.4 kPa and 5.6 ± 0.4%, respectively, before IHV and 5.1 ± 0.3 kPa and 5.7 ± 0.3%, respectively, during IHV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this experimental in vivo model of isocapnic hyperventilation, the washout time of sevoflurane anaesthesia was one-third compared to normal ventilation. The method for isocapnic hyperventilation described can potentially be transferred to a clinical setting with the intention to decrease emergence time from inhalation anaesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hallén
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stenqvist
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: S-E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ricksten
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lindgren
mesh_terms: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006985:Hyperventilation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000378:metabolism*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D000077149:Sevoflurane