CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE WITH MINIMAL FLOW XENON ANESTHESIA

Xenon is a more potent anesthetic than nitrous oxide, and gives more p rofound analgesia. This investigation was performed to assess the pote ntial of xenon for becoming an anesthetic inspire of its high manufact uring cost. Seven ASA I-II patients undergoing cholecystectomy (n=4), hernia repair (n=2), or mammoplasty (n=1) were studied. Denitrogenatio n by 15-20 min of oxygen breathing under propofol anesthesia was follo wed by fentanyl-supplemented xenon anesthesia administered via an auto matic minimal flow system which held the oxygen concentration at 30%. Xenon anesthesia lasted 76-228 min and 8-14 l of xenon (ATPD) was used , of which 5.6-8.1 l was expended during the first 15 min. Anesthesia appeared to be satisfactory, and the patients woke up rapidly after xe non was discontinued. The automatic system made minimal flow xenon ane sthesia easy to administer, but nitrogen accumulation is still a probl em. Assuming a xenon price of 10 US$ per litre, the average cost for x enon was about 65 US$ for the first 15 min and then about 25 US$ for e ach subsequent hour of anesthesia.