BACKGROUND The Zeus® (Dräger, Lübeck, Germany), an automated closed-circuit anesthesia machine, uses high fresh gas flows (FGF) to wash-in the circuit and the lungs, and intermittently flushes the system to remove unwanted N₂. We hypothesized this could increase desflurane consumption to such an extent that agent consumption might become higher than with a conventional anesthesia machine (Anest...

PURPOSE To determine occupational exposure of the anesthesiologist and surgeon to nitrous oxide and desflurane during general anesthesia for ear-nose-throat (ENT) surgery in children and adults. METHODS An observational clinical trial was performed in ten children (C) and ten adults (A). Tracheas were intubated, in adults, with cuffed tubes and in children with uncuffed tubes. The operating r...

BACKGROUND A pulse oximeter is a standard device for perioperative monitoring. It is well known that the early detection of tissue hypoxia is of great importance. It has been made easier due to a new generation pulse oximetry device from Masimo. This enables measurements of the peripheral perfusion index (PI) in real time. It has been found that volatile anaesthetics such as sevoflurane and des...

The low solubility of desflurane has been shown to contribute to faster awakening from anesthesia when compared with other anesthetics in common use. However, research has failed to consistently demonstrate faster discharge times from the postanesthesia care unit following the use of desflurane. This study was undertaken to compare the recovery and discharge times of outpatients undergoing proc...

BACKGROUND Increased BMI may increase the body's capacity to store potent inhaled anaesthetics, more so with more soluble agents. Accordingly, we asked whether increased BMI and longer anaesthesia prolonged airway reflex recovery. METHODS We measured time from anaesthetic discontinuation until first response to command (T1); from response to command until ability to swallow (T2); and from ana...

We studied 50 ASA I-II patients, aged 18-65 yr, undergoing elective orofacial surgery. Anaesthesia was induced with fentanyl and propofol, and maintained with 66% nitrous oxide in oxygen and either desflurane or isoflurane to compare recovery characteristics and cardiovascular stability. Cardiovascular responses to induction, intubation and incision were similar with both agents, although the i...

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is a common complication in the elderly patients receiving desflurane anaesthesia. The bispectral index score (BIS) -targeted desflurane anaesthesia may hasten the recovery and cognitive function in the elderly patients after spine surgery. Forty patients aged >60 yr., scheduled for elective spine surgery were randomly allocated to BIS targeted (n=20) and MAC...

Background: Anesthetic preconditioning is mediated by adrenergic signaling. This study was designed to elucidate the role of -adrenergic signaling in desflurane-induced postconditioning. Methods: Pentobarbital-anesthetized New Zealand White rabbits were subjected to 30 min of coronary artery occlusion followed by 3 h of reperfusion and were randomly assigned to receive vehicle (control), 1.0 mi...

UNLABELLED As life expectancy increases, more patients ≥65 years undergo general anesthesia. Anesthetic agents may contribute to postoperative cognitive dysfunction, and incidence may differ with anesthetic agents or intraoperative anesthesia depth. Responses to anesthetic adjuvants vary among elderly patients. Processed electroencephalography guidance of anesthetic may better ensure equivalent...

All modern vapor anesthetics are capable of carbon monoxide (CO) production as a result of interaction with desiccated strong base containing carbon dioxide absorbents. In desiccated absorbents, desflurane produces the highest concentrations of CO. Sevoflurane is known to produce the nephrotoxic compound A (CA) independently from water content of the carbon dioxide absorbent. The purpose of thi...