• Anna B Roehl, Andreas Goetzenich, Rolf Rossaint, Norbert Zoremba, and Marc Hein.
• Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital of Aachen, Aachen, Germany. aroehl@ukaachen.de
• Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2010 Jul 1;27(7):660-5.

Background And ObjectiveStable haemodynamics and its cardioprotective and neuroprotective properties favour xenon as an ideal but expensive anaesthetic agent. The aim of this study was to optimize a semi-closed anaesthesia circuit for xenon anaesthesia with respect to economics and patient safety.MethodsA semi-closed nonrebreathing circuit was compared with a closed anaesthesia circuit. In 12 landrace pigs, we compared eight different wash-in procedures affecting xenon consumption. Additionally, the maintenance of anaesthesia was analysed with regard to minimizing xenon consumption.ResultsThe current study showed that, by optimization of the electronic regulation of the wash-in procedure for xenon anaesthesia, the consumption of the valuable gas can be reduced by up to 75% in a semi-closed circuit. The additional maintenance of anaesthesia under low flow conditions by coupling the xenon flow to the oxygen consumption is the most effective way to technically reduce the amount of xenon needed for anaesthesia.

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