British journal of anaesthesia
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A new method has been developed to measure end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure (PECO2) during high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV). A digital flow controller incorporated in a computerized high frequency jet ventilator was used to deliver either a single deep breath or a series of three deep breaths. On user request, HFJV was interrupted and the deep breaths delivered, after which HFJV was resumed. ⋯ In all the dogs, within an optimum Pdb range of 5-10 cm H2O, PECO2 during the first deep breath was found to be similar (+/- 0.2 kPa) to the PaCO2 immediately before the onset of deep breaths. Deep breaths delivered above or below the optimum Pdb range resulted in a decrease in the ratio PECO2:PaCO2. The frequency of jet ventilation (12-200 b.p.m.) before the onset of the deep breaths did not affect PECO2:PaCO2.