Does geographical location influence inflow requirements of the Bain breathing system?

A review of publications from various countries, using the Bain system with a fresh gas flow of 70 ml kg-1 min-1 and controlled ventilation, show a range of mean PaCO2 values between 36 and 43 mmHg. It was suggested that these differences could be related to the geographic location of the patient population studied. Anaesthetists from seven institutions in West Germany, England, Sweden, the United States, Australia and Canada collaborated in a preliminary study designed to find out whether these differences could be reduplicated. In 142 patients under a standard anaesthesia with controlled ventilation, PaCO2 values were determined 30 min after the fresh gas flows had been set. For 70 ml kg-1 min-1 the mean PaCO2 values ranged from 33 to 40 mmHg; for 100 ml kg-1 min-1 from 28 to 35 mmHg. Compared to the mean PaCO2 values from Canada, the results from Australia and the USA were not different and all at the lower end of this range; Sweden, West Germany and England reported significantly higher PaCO2 values. In the absence of any other obvious explanation, we suggest that patients in England and Northern Europe could have a higher CO2 output under anaesthesia than North American or Australian patients.