Solubility of I-653, sevoflurane, isoflurane, and halothane in plastics and rubber composing a conventional anesthetic circuit.

This study defines some characteristics of a standard anesthetic circuit that may impede anesthetic induction and recovery with I-653, sevoflurane, isoflurane, and halothane. Partition coefficients for anesthetic circuit components (masks, bellows, bags, airways, and circuit tubes) consistently ranked halothane greater than isoflurane greater than sevoflurane greater than I-653, suggesting a reverse order of washin and washout rates for an anesthetic circuit constructed from similar components. Consistent with this prediction, the concentrations of I-653 increased and decreased more rapidly than those of the other agents at any flow rate during washin (0.5, 1, or 2 L/min gas inflow rates) or washout (1, 3, or 5 L/min) in a conventional anesthetic circuit. The rates of change in I-653 concentration closely approximated the maximal possible theoretical rates. Our results suggest that absorption of I-653 by circuit components or soda lime should not hinder induction of or recovery from anesthesia.