[Anesthetic circle system failure caused by a plastic film--a case report]

A 44-year-old woman, ASA I, with breast cancer was scheduled for mastectomy. The anesthetic induction was performed by inhalation of 5% sevoflurane and 66% nitrous oxide in oxygen. After the loss of eyelash reflex assisted ventilation was initiated. At this point, the capnograph indicated inspired carbon dioxide tension of 18mmHg. Anesthetic machine check was soon carried out again. A visual check of non-return valves detected a plastic film, 18 x 21mm large, caught in the expiratory valve. This plastic film impaired complete occlusion of the orifice for the expiratory gas flow. As a result, the patient was rebreathing carbon dioxide. After removing it, the wave form of the capnograph was normalized and end-tidal carbon dioxide tension decreased immediately from 45mmHg to 33mmHg. As we did not detect any foreign matters at the non-return valves on anesthetic machine check before use, the plastic film might have already existed in the disposable corrugated tube before use. The capnograph is a useful device for detecting anesthetic circle system failure in such a case. It is important that the patients' airway is separated from the anesthetic circle system through the use of a filter to prevent foreign matter from being inhaled.