Premium
Low‐flow anaesthesia
Author(s) -
COTTER S. M.,
PETROS A. J.,
DORÉ C. J.,
BARBER N. D.,
WHITE D. C.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1991.tb09910.x
Subject(s) - medicine , enflurane , isoflurane , anesthesia , general anaesthesia , fresh gas flow , sevoflurane
Summary An 8‐week survey was conducted to determine whether the introduction of low‐flow anaesthesia (a fresh gas flow of 4 litres/minute or less) into routine use would be acceptable to members of a representative anaesthetic department and if the consequent reduction in use of volatile anaesthetics would result in financial savings. The hourly consumption of the volatile agents was measured during anaesthesia conducted using either conventional or low fresh gas flows. Anaesthetists' acceptance of low‐flow anaesthesia was assessed using a questionnaire. Data were gathered on 286 patients undergoing inhalational anaesthesia for routine operative procedures. A 54.7% reduction in the consumption of isoflurane and a 55.9% reduction in that of enflurane was found. Of the 28 anaesthetists at the hospital, 21 would use low‐flow anaesthesia routinely. The routine use of low‐flow anaesthesia would therefore be acceptable and could result in annual savings of £26870 at Northwick Park Hospital.