Flow pattern and respiratory characteristics during halothane anaesthesia

Abstract

Using pneumotachography, the flow pattern was analysed in detail and tidal volume, respiratory rate, dead-space to tidal volume ratio (VD/VT) and carbon dioxide output were measured in adults (Group A, n = 12) and 3-8-year-old children (Group B, n = 10) during spontaneous breathing anaesthesia with halothane and surgery. The respiratory cycle was divided by equidistant points into 40 parts and the flow at each point related to peak inspiratory and expiratory flow. Thus a relative flow pattern was derived. This relative flow pattern was almost identical in both groups. Characteristically, the flow curve showed rapid turns from high expiratory to high inspiratory flow rates without any end-expiratory flow pause (except in one adult). The minute ventilation was 6.6 +/- 2.0 1 X min-1 in Group A and 3.4 +/- 0.6 1 X min-1 in Group B, being correlated both to body weight and body surface area in Group A but not in Group B. The tidal volume was 210 +/- 60 ml in Group A and 78 +/- 13 ml in Group B, respiratory rate 31 +/- 4 X min-1 and 44 +/- 10 X min-1, respectively, and the VD/VT ratio 0.40 +/- 0.10 and 0.55 +/- 0.12, respectively. Carbon dioxide output was 173 ml X min-1 (STPD) in the adults and 82 +/- 13 ml X min-1 (STPD) in the children. It was correlated to both body weight and body surface area in the adults but not in the children.