Evaluation of a non-rebreathing circuit for small animal anaesthesia

Several new multi-purpose non-rebreathing anaesthetic systems have been developed for human anaesthesia. This study evaluated a New Zealand designed non-rebreathing circuit, the Palmerston Valve, in anaesthetised spontaneously breathing dogs and compared it to the widely used Lack coaxial circuit. Arterial blood gas measurements 60 minutes after induction demonstrated comparable slight increases in PaCO2 in nearly all dogs maintained on the Palmerston Valve and Lack coaxial circuit with halothane and oxygen mixtures, and a fresh gas flow rate of 70 ml/kg/min. Results suggest the Palmerston Valve is at least as efficient as the Lack coaxial circuit, while offering in the same unit the potential for economical controlled ventilation.