CONTINUOUS MONITORING OF IRRIGATING FLUID ABSORPTION DURING TRANSURETHRAL SURGERY

We have designed an automatic detector system for noninvasive monitori ng of irrigating fluid absorption during transurethral resection of th e prostate. Ethanol, which is used as a tracer for the fluid, is measu red in the expired breath of the patient. The breath ethanol monitor c an be used both in the awake patient and during general anaesthesia. A lap-top computer controls the monitor and calculates the fluid absorp tion 1-3 times per min and uses the pattern of ethanol changes to indi cate whether the fluid is being taken by the intra- and/or extravascul ar route. The monitor has been used in routine operations for one year . The interpretation of absorption routes was checked by control metho ds or by evaluation of the postoperative breath-ethanol curve. We foun d the indicated absorption to be correct in all resections with absorp tion large enough for the monitor to present an interpretation.