[A study of 11 ventilators for anesthesia: laboratory testing]

Eleven anaesthesia ventilators were instrumentally tested under various conditions. They included: Excel and Modulus II Plus (Ohmeda); 710 and Servo anaesthesia circle 985 (Siemens); Jollytronic (Soxil) and Elsa (Engström); SA2 and Cicero (Dräger); ABT 4,300 (Kontron); Monnal A and the prototype Alys (Taema). The test circuit comprised a two compartment model lung, a pneumotachograph, a pressure gauge in the "airway". The volume was calculated as the integral of flow rate. Each machine was calibrated by the firms' technicians. Before each test, the pneumotachograph was calibrated using a 11 air syringe and the pressure gauge with a 5 cm water column. Each machine ventilated the model lung for 30 min before starting the tests. There were five tests: 1) reliability of the machine's spirometer, 2) reliability of the ventilation rate, 3) reliability of pressure measurements, 4) effect of increasing fresh gas flow on spirometry, 5) effect of increasing downstream resistances. In usual simulated ventilatory conditions, all the machines accurately delivered the setted ventilation and spirometric measurements were with minimal error only. Several ventilators (SA2, Excel, 710, Elsa, ABT 4,300) did not succeed in maintaining their performances when compliance was strongly decreased or resistance of the test lung notably increased. Resistance in the circuit during simulated spontaneous ventilation was < 3.6 cmH2O.l-1.s-1. Increasing fresh gas flow raised the minute volume delivered in six ventilators. It is concluded that, during extreme ventilatory conditions, the inspired volume must be adjusted so as to maintain the inspired tidal volume. However, ventilators which increase inspiratory time in response to an increased mechanical load cannot be adjusted by this way.