Chapter 12: Anesthesia Breathing System: Components

INTRODUCTION

Although modern operating room ventilators are typically large and complex, the basic components are fairly simple. Figure 12-1 shows the basic breathing system components: (1) carbon dioxide (CO₂) absorbent; (2) two unidirectional valves; (3) fresh gas inlet; (4) Y-connector; (5) reservoir bag; (6) adjustable pressure-limiting (APL) valve; and (7) low-resistance tubing.

CARBON DIOXIDE ABSORPTION

Carbon dioxide absorbance is vital to preventing hypercarbia with rebreathed tidal volumes. Absorbents remove CO₂ from the circuit’s expiratory limb, allowing anesthetic gas to be recycled, thereby making a closed system possible. Soda lime, Baralyme, and Amsorb are the most common substances used for CO₂ extraction.

Soda lime is predominantly made up of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) with smaller amounts of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. Silica is added to decrease dust formation. The soda lime reaction is:

In the first equation, exhaled CO₂ reacts with water to form carbonic acid. In the second equation, carbonic acid reacts with the hydroxide salts of barium, calcium, potassium, or sodium to form water, heat, and carbonates of barium, calcium, potassium, or sodium. The third equation shows the carbonates reacting with calcium hydroxide to form calcium carbonate and hydroxides of barium, calcium, potassium, or sodium.

As can be seen from the equation, water and heat are produced, adding humidity and heat to the breathing circuit. Soda lime can absorb 23–26 L of CO₂ per 100 g of absorbent. When soda lime absorbent is exhausted, a color change occurs due to a pH-sensitive reaction.

Note: Baralyme is made up of barium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide. Water in Baralyme’s structure obviates the need for silica. Baralyme was withdrawn from the US market in 2005.

One of the most important aspects of absorbents is the size of the granules. Smaller granules have greater surface area for absorption, but increased resistance to air flow. Granule size has been carefully engineered to maximize surface area and absorption while minimizing resistance. Typical granule size is 4–8 mesh (ie, will pass through a mesh of 4–8 strands per inch in each axis, or 2.36–4.75 mm).

In addition to CO₂, granules also absorb volatile anesthetics. Dry granules can break down desflurane or isoflurane into carbon monoxide (CO), whereas sevoflurane can be broken down into compound A. These reactions produce extremely high temperatures resulting in absorbent fires. Desiccated absorbent granules, caused by high gas flows over prolonged periods, result in carboxyhemoglobinemia when used for patient care. Compound A has nephrotoxic effects in rat studies, though there has never ...