Carbon dioxide: making the right connection. (9th June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Winton Gibbs, Matthew; Hofmeyr, Ross
• Is Part Of: Southern African journal of anaesthesia and analgesia. Volume 23:Number 3(2017)
• Page Start: 76
• Page End: 78
• Publication Date: 2017-06-09
• Subjects: anaesthesia equipment -- capnography -- hypercarbia -- medical error; Anaesthesia -- Periodicals; Analgesia -- Periodicals; 617.96
• DOI: 10.1080/22201181.2017.1332292
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2220-1181

Abstract

Abstract : Carbon dioxide has been used in anaesthesia since the late 1920s, principally to stimulate breathing after a period of hyperventilation in the era before routine use of capnography. The authors' tertiary academic hospital still has the infrastructure for pipeline delivery of carbon dioxide. A case is reported of accidental administration of carbon dioxide to a patient under anaesthesia, who was found to have end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2 ) concentrations of greater than 25 kPa immediately after induction. This was confirmed on arterial blood-gas analysis. After successful resuscitation using an alternative oxygen source, it was discovered that the high concentrations were due to misconnection of gas pipelines during the refurbishment of a theatre. This highlights safety issues concerning pipeline provision of carbon dioxide, and that it is of utmost importance to confirm correct gas connections and supply before a new theatre is commissioned.