Administration of inhaled anesthesia with high-frequency oscillation: an in vitro study.

Abstract

To assess administration of inhaled anesthesia during high-frequency oscillation, we evaluated the performance of a high-frequency oscillator that permitted incorporation of a precision vaporizer. The ventilator design used a single gas source for both vaporizer circuit and ventilatory support. The performance was evaluated in conjunction with a test lung device. The vaporizer performance was accurate when high-frequency, low-volume gas flow was used to provide source gas for the vaporizer. The ventilator provided accurate halothane delivery to the test lung device. Based on the results of this study, inhaled anesthesia can be accurately administered in conjunction with high-frequency oscillation. A single gas source that transverses the vaporizer before breathing circuit entrainment is critical for accurate results.