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Transcutaneous CO 2 /O 2 and CO 2 /air suction in patients undergoing cataract surgery with retrobulbar anaesthesia
Author(s) -
Schlager A.,
Lorenz I. H.,
Luger T. J.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2044.1998.00652.x
Subject(s) - medicine , anesthesia , suction , respiratory rate , oxygen saturation , pulse oximetry , heart rate , surgery , blood pressure , respiratory system , general anaesthesia , partial pressure , hypercapnia , oxygen , mechanical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , acidosis , engineering
We investigated transcutaneous partial CO 2 and O 2 pressures and respiratory rate in unpremedicated elderly patients of ASA physical status 1 to 3 who underwent cataract surgery under retrobulbar anaesthesia. In group A no air suction was used. In group B suction was applied under the sterile drapes to avoid rebreathing of CO 2 . In group A transcutaneous partial CO 2 pressure and respiratory rate significantly increased compared with baseline, whereas in group B they remained constant. In both groups transcutaneous partial O 2 pressure and oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry significantly rose after insufflating oxygen 3 lmin −1 . Heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure remained constant. Our results demonstrate that the application of suction near the patient's head prevents CO 2 rebreathing and subsequent hypercapnia associated with an elevated respiratory rate. The use of suction makes it unnecessary to raise oxygen administration. Suction combined with monitoring of partial CO 2 pressure using transcutaneous sensors should be used in all ophthalmological operations under retrobulbar anaesthesia.