American journal of therapeutics
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The current study investigated the concentration of sevoflurane that could be achieved when sevoflurane was administered using standard agent-specific halothane, isoflurane, and enflurane vaporizers. An artificial lung analog model was made by attaching the 3-L reservoir bag to the 15-mm end of the anesthesia circle system. The lung analog was attached and ventilated with oxygen and air at flow rates of 2 L/min each (total gas flow = 4 L/min), a tidal volume of 800 mL, a rate of 10 breaths/min, and an inspiratory-to-expiratory ratio of 1:2. ⋯ The sevoflurane concentration decreased significantly when using any of the three vaporizers at all concentrations when the gas flow was increased from 4 to 8 L/min. The current study demonstrates that clinically useful concentrations of sevoflurane can be achieved with the administration of sevoflurane through an enflurane vaporizer. Although this is not routinely recommended, in specific circumstances it may allow the use of sevoflurane in third-world countries if sevoflurane vaporizers are not available and the use of sevoflurane is clinically necessary.