Evaluation of the PhysioFlex™ closed-circuit anaesthesia machine

Abstract

The concentrations of nitrous oxide, sevoflurane and oxygen in the circle system of a closed-circuit anaesthesia machine, the PhysioFlex™, were measured in seven patients. During anaesthesia, the settings for each gas were changed and their concentrations recorded. At the induction of anaesthesia, it took 80– 510s (median 190 s) for the end-tidal sevoflurane concentration to reach 2.0%, and 920–2640 s (median 1500 s) for the oxygen in the breathing circuit to reach 30%. At this time, the nitrous oxide concentration was 60±3% (mean±SD). During anaesthesia, it took 90–480 s (median 140 s) for the end-tidal sevoflurane concentration setting to decrease from 3.0 to 1.0%, and 90–400 s (median 110 s) to return from 1.0 to 3.0%. When the inspired oxygen was increased from 30 to 50%, circuit concentrations reached equilibrium in 40–60 s (median 40 s), and when decreased from 50% back to 30%, equilibrium took 310–470 s (median 450 s). During recovery from anaesthesia, inspiratory sevoflurane concentration took 40–70 s (median 50 s) to decrease to 0.2%. The PhysioFlex™ provided adequate control of sevoflurane and oxygen concentrations, but not of increasing nitrous oxide concentrations.