Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of volume ventilation (VE) and cardiac output (Q) on the temperature of the expired gas at the distal end of the endotracheal tube in anesthetized humans. In 63 mechanically ventilated adults, we used a step decrease in the humidity of inspired gas to cool the lungs. After change from humid to dry gas ventilation, the temperature of the expired gas decreased. We evaluated the relationship between the inverse monoexponential time constant of the temperature fall (1/tau) and either VE or Q. When VE was increased from 5.67 +/- 1.28 to 7.14 +/- 1.60 (SD) l/min (P = 0. 02), 1/tau did not change significantly [from 1.25 +/- 0.38 to 1.21 +/- 0.51 min-1, P = 0.81]. In the 11 patients in whom Q changed during the study period (from 5.07 +/- 1.81 to 7.38 +/- 2.45 l/min, P = 0.02), 1/tau increased correspondingly from 0.89 +/- 0.22 to 1. 52 +/- 0.44 min-1 (P = 0.003). We calculated the airway thermal volume (ATV) as the ratio of the measured values Q to 1/tau and related it to the body height (BH): ATV (liters) = 0.086 BH (cm) - 9. 55 (r = 0.90).

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.