SummaryInspiratory and expiratory tidal volume, peak and plateau airway pressure, compliance of the respiratory system, pressurevolume and jow-volume loops were monitored continuously and recorded in seven women undergoing laparoscopy with carbon dioxide insujflation to an intra-abdominal pressure of 1.6 k Pa. AN patients were anaesthetised using a total intravenous technique and a constant minute ventilation was maintained. Peak airway and plateau airway pressures increased by 50% and 81% respectively, whilst the compliance of the respiratory system decreased by 47% during the period of increased intra-abdominal pressure. Following release of the pneumoperitoneum, peak and plateau pressures remained elevated by 37% and 27% respectively, and the compliance was 86% of the pre-insuflation value. On-line monitoring of respiratory volumes, pressures and compliance may be helpful during general anaesthesia for laparoscopic procedures to avoid the potential harmful effects of increased airway pressures occurring with increased intra-abdominal pressure.

This study compares oxygenation during thoracic surgery during periods of two-lung and one-lung ventilation with patients in the supine and lateral positions when using three different fraction of inspired oxygen values. Arterial oxygen tension was decreased in all three groups during one-lung ventilation in comparison with the two-lung ventilation values, but the decrease was significantly less in the lateral, compared with the supine position.

Eight morbidly obese patients (body mass index [BMI] = 46) were studied during general anesthesia and controlled mechanical ventilation. To evaluate the effect of large tidal volume ventilation on oxygenation and ventilation, the baseline 13 mL/kg tidal volume (VT) (calculated by the ideal body weight) was increased in 3 mL/kg volume increments to 22 mL/kg, while ventilatory rate (RR) and inspiratory time (TI) were kept constant. Each volume increment was maintained for 15 min. Gas exchange was assessed by measuring the arterial blood oxygen tensions, and calculating the indices of alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference [P(A-a)O2] and arterial/alveolar oxygen tension ratio (a/A). Peak inspiratory airway pressure (Ppeak), end-inspiratory airway pressure (Pplateau), and compliance of the respiratory system (CRS) were recorded using the Capnomac Ultima (Datex, Helsinki, Finland) on-line respiratory monitor. Increasing tidal volumes to 22 mL/kg increased the recorded Ppeak (26.3 +/- 4.1 vs 37.9 +/- 3.2 cm H2O, P < 0.008), Pplateau (21.5 +/- 3.6 vs 27.7 +/- 4.3 cm H2O, P < 0.01), and CRS (39.8 +/- 7.7 vs 48.5 +/- 8.3 mL/cm H2O) significantly without improving arterial oxygen tension and resulted in severe hypocapnia. Since changes in arterial oxygenation were small and not statistically significant, mechanical ventilation of morbidly obese patients with large VTS seems to offer no advantage to smaller (13 mL/kg ideal body weight) VTS.

This investigation analyzed the changes in inspiratory airway pressures during transition from two-lung to one-lung ventilation in patients tracheally intubated with a double-lumen endotracheal tube (DLT) using a classical method of intubation without fiberoptic bronchoscopy. All patients were anesthetized in a standardized fashion. Ventilation was accomplished with the Siemens 900 constant-flow mechanical ventilator (Solna, Sweden). Peak (Ppeak) and plateau (Pplateau) inspiratory airway pressures were recorded with an on-line respiratory monitor before and after clamping the tracheal limb of the DLT. The position of the DLTs was evaluated by fiberoptic bronchoscopy with the patient in supine position. Of the 51 intubations, the DLT was malpositioned in 15 cases (29.5%). Ppeak and Pplateau increased significantly when switched from two-lung ventilation to one-lung ventilation in both correctly and incorrectly positioned DLTs. When the DLT was in a correct position, Ppeak increased by a mean of 55.1% and Pplateau increased by a mean of 41.9%. When the DLT was malpositioned, this increase was significantly larger (74.9% and 68.8%, respectively). Three tests commonly used as markers of malpositioned DLTs were evaluated based on the data of this study, and it was established that, although the pressure differences related to position are statistically significant, as a single value, they cannot be used for clinical decision making.

We present six case-reports of patients who experienced inadequate ventilation as a result of endobronchial or oesophageal intubation, or obstruction to the tracheal tube or airway and were monitored with on-line spirometry. The continuously displayed pressure-volume or flow-volume loops may be compared with previously recorded baseline loops. The changing configuration of the curves offers additional and instantaneous information about the cause of increased inspiratory airway pressure, decreased compliance or increased airway resistance. Monitoring flow-volume and pressure-volume loops in conjunction with currently available techniques provides a comprehensive method of monitoring ventilation.