Effects on breathing mechanics and gas exchange of different inspiratory gas flow patterns during anaesthesia

Ten patients without known cardiac or respiratory disease were investigated with breathing mechanics and gas exchange studies during anaesthesia and artifical ventilation. The effects of three different inspiratory gas flow patterns, namely, accelerating, constant and decelerating flows were studied. A decelerating flow resulted in an increase of total compliance when compared to an accelerating or a constant flow. However, at the same time, there was an increase in physiological dead space and a decrease in alveolar ventilation with a decelerating flow compared to an accelerating flow. These results seem to indicate an improved gas distribution in the greater airways with a decelerating flow pattern, but when the total effects of gas exchange were judged, the greatest benefits were with an accelerating flow.