Medical Devices: Evidence and Research (Nov 2016)
Comparative study of minimal fresh gas flow used in Lack-Plus and Lack’s circuit in spontaneously breathing anesthetized adults
Abstract
Sunchai Theerapongpakdee, Thepakorn Sathitkarnmanee, Sirirat Tribuddharat, Siwalai Sucher, Maneerat Thananun, Duangthida Nonlhaopol Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand Background: The Lack’s circuit is a co-axial Mapleson A breathing system commonly used in spontaneously breathing anesthetized adults but still requires high fresh gas flow (FGF). The Lack-Plus circuit was invented with the advantage of lower FGF requirement. The authors compared the Lack-Plus and Lack’s circuit for the minimal FGF requirement with no rebreathing in spontaneously breathing anesthetized adults.Methods: This was a randomized crossover study. We enrolled 24 adult patients undergoing supine elective surgery, with a body mass index ≤30 kg/m2 and an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I–II. They were randomly allocated to group 1 (LP-L) starting with Lack-Plus then switching to Lack’s circuit or group 2 (L-LP) (with the reverse pattern). After induction and intubation, anesthesia was maintained with 50% N2O/O2 and desflurane (4%–6%) plus fentanyl titration to maintain an optimal respiratory rate between 10 and 16/min. Starting with the first circuit, all the patients were spontaneously breathing with a FGF of 4 L/min for 10 min, gradually decreased by 0.5 L/min every 5 min until FGF was 2.5 L/min. End-tidal CO2, inspired minimum CO2 (ImCO2), mean arterial pressure, and oxygen saturation were recorded until rebreathing (ImCO2 >0 mmHg) occurred. The alternate anesthesia breathing circuit was used and the measurements were repeated.Results: The respective minimal FGF at the point of rebreathing for the Lack-Plus and Lack’s circuit was 2.7±0.8 and 3.3±0.5 L/min, respectively, p<0.001. At an FGF of 2.5 L/min, the respective ImCO2 was 1.5±2.0 and 4.2±2.6 mmHg, respectively, p<0.001.Conclusion: The Lack-Plus circuit can be used safely and effectively, and it requires less FGF than Lack’s circuit in spontaneously breathing anesthetized adults. Keywords: spontaneous breathing, anesthesia, non-rebreathing anesthetic circuit, modified Mapleson A breathing system, coaxial breathing system, rebreathing
