Clinical evaluation of the Mapleson theoretical ideal fresh gas flow sequence at the start of low-flow anaesthesia with isoflurane, sevoflurane and desflurane

Mapleson used a computer spreadsheet model to predict the theoretical ideal fresh gas flow sequence at the start of low-flow anaesthesia. The aim was to increase the end-expired partial pressure of inhalational agent (P-E'an) to one minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) as quickly as practicable and then to keep it constant. Ninety adult patients undergoing elective tonsill ectomy under general anaesthesia were randomly allocated to one of three gr oups (n = 30) to receive isoflurane, sevoflurane or desflurane in oxygen. F resh gas flow and vaporiser settings as specified by Mapleson were followed in all cases except that the maximum setting for desflurane was 18% (2.7 M AC instead of 3 MAC). Recordings of P-E'an were made at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 1 0, 15 and 20 min. Mean values of P-E'an exceeded 1 MAC by 2 min in all thre e groups and remained above this value throughout. Each group's P-E'an meas urements were divided by their respective 1-MAC value. A simple two-level m odel (with patients at level 2 and time at level 1), with measurements at 1 min excluded, showed that the fitted value at 2 min and the time-weighted mean for 2-20 min for P-E'iso (1.042 [95% CI 0.980-1.104] and 1.044 [0.984- 1.104], respectively) were not significantly different from its 1-MAC value , whereas those of the P-E'sevo (1.169 [1.119-1.219] and 1.143 [1.119-1.219 ]) and P-E'des (1.305 [1.261-1.349] and 1.140 [1.098-1.182]) were significa ntly higher than their respective 1-MAC values. The Mapleson concept of an initial high fresh gas flow and high vaporiser settings, followed first by reduced high fresh gas flow, as followed in this clinical study, results in P-E'an values close to or slightly higher than predicted in the spreadshee t model.