Respiratory waveform and rebreathing in T-piece circuits: a comparison of enflurane and halothane waveforms

The effects of respiratory waveform on rebreathing in a modified Mapleson D circuit were studied in 18 healthy adult patients anesthetized with either enflurane or halothane. At high fresh gas flow (FGF) rate, when no rebreathing of CO2 occurred, the duration of inspiration (Ti) with enflurane was 41 per cent greater than that with halothane. With enflurane there was a characteristic long end-expiratory pause, 0.69 s, whereas with halothane it was only 0.196 s. The mean inspiratory flow rate (Vt/Ti) was higher (224 ml/s) when halothane was used than with enflurane (187 ml/s). When the FGF rate was reduced to 100 ml/kg/min in the modified Mapleson D circuit, patients breathing halothane had increases in minute volumes (VE) in response to increases of 53-75 per cent in inspired volumes of CO2. The increases in VE resulted fro increases in Vt/Ti of 34-38 per cent. The volume of CO2 inspired when enflurane was used did not increase until FGF rate was as low as 70 ml/kg/min. The reduced rebreathing was related to the respiratory waveform. The advantage of reduced rebreathing with enflurane is counter-balanced by the more profound respiratory depression it causes. The FGF needed to abolish rebreathing of CO2 is highly variable, and is dependent on respiratory waveform.