The uptake and elimination of chloroform in man.

The rate of alveolar uptake of chloroform was studied in 16 patients during general anaesthesia. Eight patients breathed spontaneously and in eight the lungs were ventilated. Elimination was studied after 30 min and 65 min of exposure to the anaesthetic. The arterial and venous blood concentrations of chloroform plotted against time during the early phase of equilibration showed that the initial uptake of chloroform was rapid, approaching a plateau after 40-50 min. In patients breathing spontaneously the arterial concentration of chloroform, which averaged 17.28 +/- 4.1 mg dl-1, did not exceed 25% equilibration with the inspired concentration, whereas under controlled ventilation with 1% chloroform the mean concentration was 10.14 +/- 3.30 mg dl-1, which amounted to an equilibration of approximately 41%. The elimination of chloroform from the body was rapid, so that recovery was not prolonged.