[CO2 elimination in ophthalmic surgery after administration of acetazolamide]

The authors studied the influence on CO2 elimination in lungs of acetazolamide given before ophthalmic surgery. The changes in PaCO2, PETCO2, (a-ET) PCO2, ventilation volume (VE), and respiratory rate (RR) were measured before and 6 hours after administration of acetazolamide (500mg, p. o.). Comparison of PETCO2, PaCO2, (a-ET) PCO2, VE and RR after the operation with or without treatment with acetazolamide showed that (a-ET) PCO2 increased significantly and the increase of PaCO2 in post-anesthesia period was less with the treatment of acetazolamide. In other words, ventilation was stimulated by acetazolamide as the decrease in VE was less in post-anesthesia period. It may be concluded that oral administration of acetazolamide 500mg does not interfere with CO2 elimination.