Biomaterial Database

Oxygen flow through nasal cannulae. 1996

C L Henderson, and H D Rosen, and K L Arney

Department of Anaesthesia, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

OBJECTIVE Since many operating theatres do not have distinct oxygen flowmeters, flow rates of oxygen were measured via nasal prongs at several settings and attachments to three anaesthetic machines. METHODS Oxygen-flow rates were measured using a Timeter RT-200 Calibration Analyzer at three, five and eight L.min-1 via nasal prongs attached to a distinct flowmeter, the common gas outlet (CGO) and the Y-piece of a circle system with the adjustable pressure release (APL) valve closed, open and partially open at circuit pressures of 10 and 20 cm H2O. RESULTS The most accurate delivery of oxygen from a distinct flowmeter and the CGO (mean difference 0.2 +/- 0.2 and 0.4 +/- 0.4 respectively). Differences between the flowmeter and CGO were not significant (P = 0.1). Accuracy of flows via the Y-piece were worse than via the flowmeter and CGO (P < 0.0001). Flows via the Y-piece were less than those dialed, especially at high rates. With a partially open APL valve, flow depended upon pressure in the anaesthetic circuit, not upon the flow set. With the APL valve completely open, no flow occurred. CONCLUSIONS To deliver supplemental oxygen in the operating theatre when there are no distinct flowmeters, nasal prongs should be attached to the CGO of the anaesthetic machine or a flowmeter on a portable E-tank oxygen cylinder. Connecting nasal prongs to the Y-piece of a circle system should be avoided since oxygen delivery is less than dialed, especially when the APL valve is open.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010100	Oxygen	An element with atomic symbol O, atomic number 8, and atomic weight [15.99903; 15.99977]. It is the most abundant element on earth and essential for respiration.	Dioxygen,Oxygen-16,Oxygen 16
D010102	Oxygen Inhalation Therapy	Inhalation of oxygen aimed at restoring toward normal any pathophysiologic alterations of gas exchange in the cardiopulmonary system, as by the use of a respirator, nasal catheter, tent, chamber, or mask. (From Dorland, 27th ed & Stedman, 25th ed)	Inhalation Therapy, Oxygen,Therapy, Oxygen Inhalation,Inhalation Therapies, Oxygen,Oxygen Inhalation Therapies,Therapies, Oxygen Inhalation
D011312	Pressure	A type of stress exerted uniformly in all directions. Its measure is the force exerted per unit area. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Pressures
D002138	Calibration	Determination, by measurement or comparison with a standard, of the correct value of each scale reading on a meter or other measuring instrument; or determination of the settings of a control device that correspond to particular values of voltage, current, frequency or other output.	Calibrations
D002404	Catheterization	Use or insertion of a tubular device into a duct, blood vessel, hollow organ, or body cavity for injecting or withdrawing fluids for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. It differs from INTUBATION in that the tube here is used to restore or maintain patency in obstructions.	Cannulation,Cannulations,Catheterizations
D004867	Equipment Design	Methods and patterns of fabricating machines and related hardware.	Design, Equipment,Device Design,Medical Device Design,Design, Medical Device,Designs, Medical Device,Device Design, Medical,Device Designs, Medical,Medical Device Designs,Design, Device,Designs, Device,Designs, Equipment,Device Designs,Equipment Designs
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000764	Anesthesia, Closed-Circuit	Inhalation anesthesia where the gases exhaled by the patient are rebreathed as some carbon dioxide is simultaneously removed and anesthetic gas and oxygen are added so that no anesthetic escapes into the room. Closed-circuit anesthesia is used especially with explosive anesthetics to prevent fires where electrical sparking from instruments is possible.	Anesthesia, Rebreathing,Closed-Circuit Anesthesia,Anesthesia, Closed Circuit,Anesthesias, Closed-Circuit,Anesthesias, Rebreathing,Closed Circuit Anesthesia,Closed-Circuit Anesthesias,Rebreathing Anesthesia,Rebreathing Anesthesias
D000769	Anesthesia, Inhalation	Anesthesia caused by the breathing of anesthetic gases or vapors or by insufflating anesthetic gases or vapors into the respiratory tract.	Insufflation Anesthesia,Anesthesia, Insufflation,Inhalation Anesthesia
D012212	Rheology	The study of the deformation and flow of matter, usually liquids or fluids, and of the plastic flow of solids. The concept covers consistency, dilatancy, liquefaction, resistance to flow, shearing, thixotrophy, and VISCOSITY.	Flowmetry,Velocimetry,Velocimetries