Accuracy of the Foldes-Biro equation for measurement of oxygen uptake during anaesthesia: a laboratory simulation.

Abstract

Laboratory benchtop testing was conducted of the Biro method for measurement of oxygen uptake from an anaesthetic breathing system by patients during low flow anaesthesia. A high precision flow and gas concentration measurement system was employed in conjunction with a physical gas exchange simulation model to test the theoretical basis of the method under controlled conditions. Simulated oxygen uptake values between 200 and 350 ml x min(-1) were modelled. The Biro-derived measurement of simulated O(2) uptake significantly underestimated the target value (mean difference -88.5 ml x min(-1), or -31.7%). The bias was directly proportional to the simulated O(2) uptake. The Biro method has a systematic bias that cannot be explained by random measurement imprecision.