• S Søndergaard, S Kárason, S Lundin, and O Stenqvist.
• Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg University, Sweden. soren.sondergaard@mbox319.swipnet.se
• J Clin Monit Comput. 1998 Aug 1; 14 (6): 425-31.

ObjectiveMixtures of helium and oxygen are regaining a place in the treatment of obstruction of the upper and lower respiratory tract. The parenchymal changes during the course of IRDS or ARDS may also benefit from the reintroduction of helium/oxygen. In order to monitor and document the effect of low-density gas mixtures, we evaluated the Datex AS/3 Side Stream Spirometry module with D-lite (Datex-Engstrom Instrumentarium Corporation, Finland) against two golden standards.MethodsUnder conditions simulating controlled and spontaneous ventilation with gas mixtures of He (approx. 80, 50, and 20%)/O2 or N2(approx. 21 and 79%)/02, simultaneous measurements using Biotek Ventilator Tester (Bio-Tek Instr., Vermont, USA) or body plethysmograph (SensorMedics System, Anaheim, USA) were correlated with data from the spirometry module. Data were analyzed according to a statistical regression model resulting in a best-fit equation based on density, voltage, and volume measurements.ResultsAs expected, the D-lite (a modified Pitot tube) showed density-dependent behaviour. Regression equations and percentage deviation of estimated versus measured values were calculated.ConclusionMeasurements with the D-lite using low-density gases are satisfactorily contained in best-fit equations with a standard deviation of less than 5% during all ventilatory modes and mixtures.

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