The climatisation of anesthetic gases under conditions of high flow to low flow.

Abstract

The aim of climatisation of anesthetic gases in prolonged anesthesia is to maintain tracheobronchial climate comparable to that of spontaneous nasal breathing. The humidity and temperature of inspired gases attained in the circle system at a fresh gas flow of 6.0, 3.0 and 1.5 l/min are inadequate for prolonged anesthesia. According to the results of our study with the scanning electron microscope, the minimal flow technique (0.5 l/min) leads to major improvement of heat (28 to 32 degrees C) and moisture (20 to 27 mg H2O/l) conditions of anesthetic gases in anesthesia systems.