British Journal of Anaesthesia, Vol 77, Issue 4 534-536, Copyright © 1996 by The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia
B. B. Poulton, L. Foubert, J. Klinowski, R. D. Latimer, P. R. Knowles and A. Vuylsteke
Nitric oxide (NO) is effective in the management of pulmonary hypertension
and shunt-related hypoxia. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is formed when the gas is
delivered with oxygen. Both oxides of nitrogen have well recognized adverse
effects. The scavenging properties of several forms of soda lime have been
investigated. A gas flow containing NO 70 ppm and NO2 5 ppm in oxygen was
introduced into a vertically mounted Waters' canister containing: (i) 125 g
of molecular sieve 5A (a calcium aluminosilicate zeolite) and (ii) 135 g of
soda lime containing a potassium permanganate marker. NO and NO2
concentrations were measured at hourly intervals at the entry and exit
points using an electrochemical analyser. Extraction ratios (gradient/
inlet x 100) were calculated for a 24-h period. High extraction ratios (in
excess of 90%) of NO and NO2 were observed with both compounds for up to 1
h but these declined rapidly after this time with soda lime. In contrast,
the molecular sieve produced extraction ratios in excess of 98% for both
gases over the 24-h period. We conclude that the molecular seive 5A is a
highly effective scavenger of NO and NO2.
LABORATORY INVESTIGATIONS
Extraction of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide from an oxygen carrier using molecular sieve 5A
Department of Anaesthesia, Papworth Hospital, Papworth Everard, Cambridge, CB3 8RE; Department of Anaesthesia, University Hospital Gent, Belgium; Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW
![]()
CiteULike
Connotea
Del.icio.us What's this?