Thermovents and dead space

Re: Thermovents and dead space

Nicola Smith — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:23:44 GMT

Thats great, thanks for that. We dont have a capnograph and was manly thinking for patients not on the circle - its just that compromise between dead space and warmth. Hmm

Re: Thermovents and dead space

Nick Shackleton — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:53:24 GMT

If using a circle circuit there is no point using an HME (heat moisture exchanger) as the canister warms the gases after long periods of time

I tend to only use them on patients weighing over 3kg and under 10kg. As I would have a capnograph the HME can be used as a capnograph sample point. So in theory not increasing dead space, but maybe increasing resistance slightly.

hope this makes sense!

Re: Thermovents and dead space

Phrin Vernon RVN — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:26:45 GMT

i was told by a vet anaesthatist that they were a no go coz of the dead space thing

but! apparently though this is something anaesthatists can not agree on! dead space vs humidifying and warming.....

my tutor this week told us they were good, but only on patients over 10kg, otherwise the dead space was too much

hope that helps - i'm still confused on the matter myself tbh!