Modification of a nonrebreathing circuit adapter to prevent barotrauma in anesthetized patients

• Published in: Veterinary surgery Vol. 24; no. 4; p. 352
• Main Authors: McMurphy, R M, Hodgson, D S, Cribb, P H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.1995
• Subjects: Anesthesia - adverse effects; Anesthesia - veterinary; Anesthesiology - instrumentation; Animals; Barotrauma - etiology; Barotrauma - prevention & control; Barotrauma - veterinary; case studies; Cat Diseases - etiology; Cat Diseases - prevention & control; Cat Diseases - surgery; Cats; chat; equipo veterinario; estudios de casos practicos; etude de cas; Female; gato; Intestinal Diseases - surgery; Intestinal Diseases - veterinary; Male; materiel veterinaire; Mediastinal Emphysema - etiology; Mediastinal Emphysema - prevention & control; Mediastinal Emphysema - veterinary; pathogenese; pathogenesis; patogenesis; Pneumothorax - etiology; Pneumothorax - prevention & control; Pneumothorax - veterinary; Positive-Pressure Respiration - instrumentation; Positive-Pressure Respiration - veterinary; Respiration; ventilacion; ventilation; veterinary equipment
• ISSN: 0161-3499; 1532-950X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.1995.tb01342.x

Barotrauma, pneumothorax, and pneumomediastinum occurred in two anesthetized cats in which the waste gas outlet of a nonrebreathing circuit was occluded. To prevent any similar cases of barotrauma, we have modified our nonrebreathing circuit adapters by inserting a 15 cm H2O PEEP valve into the gas pathway of the nonrebreathing circuit adapter. This PEEP valve prevents the circuit and airway pressures from exceeding 15 cm H2O if the pop-off valve of the nonrebreathing circuit adapter is inadvertently left closed.