Detection of venous air embolism in dogs by emission spectrometry

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Journal of Clinical Monitoring; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02832178· OSTI ID:7167935

Russell, G B; Richard, R B; Snider, M T ^[1]

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1. Pennsylvania State Univ., Hershey (USA)

Emission spectrometers provide alternative, relatively inexpensive methods for detecting the concentration of respiratory gas nitrogen. Mass spectrometers are accepted as reliable monitors of end-tidal nitrogen for detection of venous air embolisms. We evaluated an inexpensive emission spectrometer for detecting changes in nitrogen levels and compared it with a mass spectrometer for detecting increased end-tidal nitrogen levels in dogs with venous air embolisms. During in vitro gas flow studies (helium; oxygen; helium/oxygen mixtures; or 70% nitrous oxide/30% oxygen with 0, 1, 2, or 3% isoflurane), air boluses (0.01 to 5.0 ml) were injected into a gas flow circuit and outlet nitrogen levels were measured by a Collins 21232 emission spectrometer. Responses were greater after each bolus when helium rather than oxygen was the major diluent gas. During in vivo studies, 5 dogs were anesthetized, ventilated, denitrogenated, and given venous air embolisms (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 ml.kg-1) during oxygen and then during Heliox (20% oxygen:80% helium) breathing. End-tidal nitrogen increased approximately two-fold after venous air embolisms given during Heliox as compared with oxygen ventilation. In all 0.1-ml.kg-1 venous air embolisms end-tidal nitrogen increased when the emission spectrometer was used, but venous air embolisms less than 1.0 ml.kg-1 were not consistently detected by mass spectrometry. Emission spectrometry can be used to detect increased end-tidal nitrogen levels indicative of venous air embolism and may be a more sensitive detector than mass spectrometry.

• OSTI ID: 7167935
• Journal Information: Journal of Clinical Monitoring; (USA), Vol. 6:1; ISSN 0748-1977
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
MASS SPECTROMETERS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
X-RAY EMISSION ANALYSIS
X-RAY SPECTROMETERS
DOGS
HELIUM
NITROGEN
OXYGEN
ANIMALS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
MAMMALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
NONMETALS
RARE GASES
SPECTROMETERS
VERTEBRATES
550602* - Medicine- External Radiation in Diagnostics- (1980-)