1-1-8 one-step sevoflurane wash-in scheme for low-flow anesthesia: simple, rapid, and predictable induction

Background

Sevoflurane is suitable for low-flow anesthesia (LFA). LFA needs a wash-in phase. The reported sevoflurane wash-in schemes lack simplicity, target coverage, and applicability. We proposed a one-step 1-1-8 wash-in scheme for sevoflurane LFA to be used with both N₂O and Air. The objective of our study was to identify time for achieving each level of alveolar concentration of sevoflurane (F_AS) from 1 to 3.5% in both contexts.

Methods

We recruited 199 adults requiring general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation and controlled ventilation—102 in group N₂O and 97 in group Air. After induction and intubation, a wash-in was started using a fresh gas flow of O₂:N₂O or O₂:Air at 1:1 L·min^− 1 plus sevoflurane 8%. The ventilation was controlled to maintain end-tidal CO₂ of 30–35 mmHg.

Results

The rising patterns of F_AS and inspired concentration of sevoflurane (F_IS) are similar, running parallel between the groups. The F_AS/F_IS ratio increased from 0.46 to 0.72 within 260 s in group N₂O and from 0.42 to 0.69 within 286 s in group Air. The respective time to achieve an F_AS of 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, and 3.5% was 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 3.5, and 4.5 min in group N₂O and 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, and 5 min in group Air. The heart rate and blood pressure of both groups significantly increased initially then gradually decreased as F_AS increased.

Conclusions

The 1-1-8 wash-in scheme for sevoflurane LFA has many advantages, including simplicity, coverage, swiftness, safety, economy, and that it can be used with both N₂O and Air. A respective F_AS of 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, and 3.5% when used with N₂O and Air can be expected at 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 3.5, and 4.5 min and 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, and 5 min.