[Case report of severe multiple trauma. Anesthesiologic techniques].

The modern anaesthetic devices have now put an end to the sixties-fashioned aphorism: "Closed circuit=open coffin". The currently renewed interest in the recirculation systems is justified by the following reasons: economic benefit; environmental advantages; clinical features, such as: 1) better humidification of gases; 2) better preservation of warmth; 3) monitoring of O2 consume; 4) gas analysis on each respiratory act. This allows the use of fresh gases at low flow without the risk of hypoxia or overdosage in patients and it guarantees for safe anaesthesia. The following clinical case clearly shows the application of the above mentioned principles. An extremely serious case of head, chest and abdominal multiple trauma, personally observed, is described. The so called technics "partial rebreathing" was adopted thanks to the availability of a device which permits a punctual monitoring of SAO2, ETCO2, FI and FET, FLO2, VM, VT, VEmin, % of N2O, invasive SAP and body temperature. These are very important parameters for a safe anaesthesia and in conditions like those of the above described clinical case.