Summary
The effect of anaesthesia on respiratory system compliance is not settled. We have studied compliance in subjects awake and then anaesthetized with either halothane or neurolept anaesthesia, both with and without muscle paralysis.
A new method of data analysis is also presented. The changes in respiratory volume and pressure are related logarithmically. On the basis of comparison of data in which lung volume is acutely changed during study, the slope of the volume-pressure line is interpreted to represent the elasticity of the system.
We found no change in elasticity of the respiratory system resulting from induction of anaesthesia or muscle paralysis. From this we conclude that changes in respiratory compliance during anaesthesia are probably due to the changes in lung volume which are known to occur.
Résumé
L’effet de l’anesthésie sur la compliance du système respiratoire ne réunit pas encore toutes les opinions. Nous avons étudié la compliance de sujets à l'état de veille puis anesthésiés soit avec de l'halothane ou la neuroleptanesthésie et, dans les deux cas avec ou sans paralysie musculaire.
Nous présentons également une nouvelle méthode d'analyse des données. Les changements dans le volume et la pression pulmonaire ont une relation logarithmique. Sur la base de la comparaison des données qui démontrent que le volume pulmonaire subit des changements rapides durant l'étude, l'allure de la courbe volume-pression est interprété comme représentant l'élasticité du système.
Nous n'avons pas trouvé de changement dans l'élasticité du système respiratoire à la suite de l'induction de l'anesthésie ou de la paralysie de la musculature. Cela nous permet de conclure que les changements de la compliance respiratoire durant l'anesthésie sont probablement attribuables aux changements de volumes pulmonaires qui surviennent, comme chacun le sait.
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Department of Anesthesiology, University of Oregon Medical School, Portland, Oregon 97201.
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Waltemath, C.L., Bergman, N.A. & Preuss, D.D. Respiratory volume-pressure relationships during anaesthesia. Canad. Anaesth. Soc. J. 20, 281–289 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03027166
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03027166