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[Comparative clinical evaluation of 4 heat and moisture exchangers (HME) in general anesthesia]
G Cornaggia1, G Chidini, L Stella
1Dipartimento di Scienze Neuropsichiche, IRCCS S. Raffaele, Milano.
Objective:
To determine the efficiency, during general anaesthesia, of four commercially available HMEs, with particular attention to the change of performances due to the new modifications introduced by the manufacturers.
Design:
Comparisons of the performances of each HMEs with psychometric method in terms of T degree C, RH (%), AH (mgH2O/1) of inhaled and expired gases.
Patients:
A sample of 28 patients under general anesthesia longer than 150 minutes, undergone elective urological surgery. Patients with cardiological, respiratory and metabolic impairments have been excluded.
Measurements And Results:
The measurements of T degree C, RH and AH have been performed with thermometric probes every minute. The collected data have been analyzed by Student's "t"-test for unpaired data.
Conclusions:
The obtained data show that a good conditioning of the inhaled gases is possible, although only few HMEs satisfy the requirements indicated in the ISO and BSI standards.