• J-F Diependaele, A Caron Salloum, M-H Depoortere, and F Delepoulle.
• Service de Néonatologie, CH de Dunkerque, 130, avenue Louis-Herbeaux, 59385 Dunkerque cedex 1, France.
• Ann Fr Anesth Reanim. 2011 Oct 1;30(10):718-21.

ObjectivesOxygen hood is largely used to deliver O₂ to newborn infants with respiratory failure in the northern region of France. The oxygen flow is set to obtain the target arterial blood oxygen saturation. Thus, O₂ flow delivers into the hood may be below the recommended gas flow of 6L/min. However, gas flow below 6L/min exposes to CO₂ rebreathing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of various rates of gas flows on the values of partial pressure of CO₂ into the hood.Material And MethodsWe measured CO₂ and O₂ partial pressure into hoods of two different volumes (4 and 10L) under two experimental bench test conditions. Protocol 1: gas flow was constant at 6L/min, while oxygen fraction varied from 0.21 to 1. Partial pressure of CO₂ and O₂ were recorded. Protocol 2: while O₂ fraction was kept constant, oxygen flow varied from 0.5 to 7L/min (by step of 0.5L/min). Partial pressure of CO₂ and O₂ were recorded.ResultsPartial pressure of CO₂ increases proportionally to the decrease in the gas flow delivered into the hood, and reached 14 mmHg at gas flow of 0.5L/min.ConclusionRisk of CO₂ rebreathing exists as soon as the gas is delivered into the hood at minimal flow rates below 6L/min.2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

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