Getinge Maquet FLOW-i 4.2

5.1.2 Low flow anesthesia
The use of oxygen as the drive gas in the
volume reflector diminishes the risk for hypoxia
should a leakage occur during low, or minimal
flow anesthesia. However, should a leakage
occur (the source of which is either known of
unknown), then the volume reflector always
ensures ventilation (it will never collapse like
a bellows).
A leakage moves the borderline between
exhaled gas and oxygen towards the breathing
circuit, see illustration below. During a leakage
the volume reflector adds oxygen to the
breathing circuit. The leakage is obvious to
the anesthetist as there is a simultaneous slow
increase of oxygen concentration and a slow
decrease of agent concentration at the
y-piece. A leakage alarm will also be activated.
The illustration shows the relative positioning
of oxygen to exhaled gas during three different
situations; Inhalation (A), Exhalation (B) and
Leakage (C).
A
B
C
3
3
1
2
3
1. Exhaled gas
2. Oxygen from the reflector module
3. Oxygen/exhaled gas border
FLOW-i 4.2, User's Manual
67
| System functionality |
5 |