Measurement of the Second Gas Effect on Sevoflurane in Anaesthetised Patients
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2006-09-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This study is investigating the "second gas effect", a phenomenon produced by the uptake of
nitrous oxide (N2O) by the lungs, during the course of a typical anaesthetic. The effect is
to increase the concentration of other breathed gases in the lung. These include oxygen and
volatile anaesthetic agents such as sevoflurane, which are also normally administered along
with N2O. We wish to i) measure the magnitude of the second gas effects on both blood and
expired concentrations of sevoflurane (Part 1), and ii) see if a demonstrable difference
exists between the effects on blood and expired concentrations.