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Xenon inhalation increases airway pressure in ventilated patients
Author(s) -
Rueckoldt H.,
Vangerow B.,
Marx G.,
Haubitz B.,
Cobas Meyer M.,
Piepenbrock S.,
Leuwer M.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1034/j.1399-6576.1999.431016.x
Subject(s) - xenon , medicine , anesthesia , inhalation , ventilation (architecture) , airway , respiratory system , peak inspiratory pressure , airway resistance , mechanical ventilation , nuclear medicine , tidal volume , chemistry , mechanical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering
Background: The inert gas xenon, known as an anaesthetic for nearly 50 years, is also used as a contrast agent during computerised tomography (CT)‐scanning. As xenon has a higher density and viscosity than air, xenon inhalation may increase airway resistance. Methods: In a retrospective study we investigated the effects of 33% xenon/67% oxygen on airway pressure and cardio‐respiratory parameters in 37 long‐term mechanically ventilated patients undergoing cerebral blood flow (rCBF) measurements by means of stable xenon‐enhanced CT. Results: Xenon administration caused a significant increase in peak airway pressure from 31.6±8.0 cm H 2 O to 42.7±16.9 cm H 2 O. This effect was reproducible, did not occur after reduction of inspiratory flow rate by 50% from 0.56±0.15 L · s −1 to 0.28±0.08 L · s −1 , and vanished immediately after termination of xenon delivery. Conclusion: Due to the higher density and viscosity of this gas mixture, ventilation with xenon/oxygen produces a higher Reynolds’ number than oxygen/air when given at the same flow rate. This means that during xenon ventilation the zone of transition from turbulent to laminar gas flow may be located more peripherally (in smaller airways) than during oxygen/air ventilation with a subsequent increase in airway resistance. Our results indicate that xenon inhalation may cause a clinically relevant increase of peak airway pressure in mechanically ventilated patients.