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British Journal of Anaesthesia, 2000, Vol. 85, No. 2 308-310
© 2000 The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia

Brief Communication

Water vapour in a closed anaesthesia circuit reduces degradation/adsorption of halothane by dried soda lime

A. Schindler1, M. Vorweg2, T. W. L. Scheeren1 and M. Doehn2

1Departments of Experimental and Clinical Anaesthesiology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Moorenstr. 5, D-40225 Duesseldorf, Germany. 2Department of Anaesthesiology, Merheim Hospital, Clinics of Cologne, Ostmerheimer Str. 200, D-51109 Cologne, Germany

Abstract

Dry lime causes a loss of volatile anaesthetics by degrading and adsorbing them. Degradation produces toxic substances and heat. Rehydration of lime stops degradation. If humidified breathing gases rehydrate lime, closed anaesthesia-circuits may reduce the loss of anaesthetics. To test this hypothesis we ventilated a reservoir bag with PhysioFlex®-devices using fresh (F) and dried (D) soda lime both in the presence (+H) and absence (–H) of halothane. We measured halothane delivery, humidity, temperature, and lime weight. Halothane was lost for 13 min in D+H. Humidity increased steeper with fresh lime, whereas absorbent weight increased more with dried lime; halothane increased both variables (F+H: 99%, 8 g; F–H: 93%, 6 g; D+H: 58%, 17 g; D–H: 24%, 15 g). Surprisingly, temperature remained constant, probably because of the high gas flow (70 litres min–1) generated inside the Physioflex®. These findings indicate rehydration of dried lime by humid gases and a rapid cessation of the loss of halothane in the PhysioFlex®.

Br J Anaesth 2000; 85: 308–10


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