Do Activated Charcoal Filters With Pediatric Ventilator Settings Produce Clean Anesthesia Machines?
Radhamangalam J. Ramamurthi, M.D., F.R.C.A., John G. Brock-Utne, M.D., Ph.D., Christine G. Jette, M.D. Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California, United States
Excerpt:
Current evidence from data on animal studies suggests that to avoid triggering malignant hyperthermia in MH susceptible patients, the residual anesthetic vapor concentration must be less than 5 ppm.. Newer anesthesia machines incorporating more plastic and rubber components into their internal breathing systems which act as a volatile anesthetic sink. Recent studies show that the concentration of volatile anesthetic in anesthesia machines can remain well above the 5ppm threshold after a flush far longer than the previous 20 or 30-minute standard.
MHAUS advocates the use of commercially available activated charcoal filters as one option to provide vapor free anesthesia machine for MH susceptible patients.
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