Computer-calculated pulmonary carbon dioxide and oxygen exchange in human subjects during general anesthesia with mechanical ventilation.

Computer calculation of minute-by-minute and breath-by-breath values for carbon dioxide excretion (VCO2) and oxygen consumption (VO2) in human subjects during general anesthesia and mechanical ventilation were obtained with position changes and after drug administration to demonstrate a method for monitoring pulmonary gas exchange. A modified response to the intravenous injection of doxapram hydrochloride was observed in 12 patients with pancuronium bromide neuromuscular relaxation when they were compared with 12 patients who had been tubocurarine. The data included representative values for VCO2 and VO2 measured simultaneously in normal women after 1-2 h of balanced nitrous oxide-oxygen-fentanyl anesthesia with muscular relaxation and mechanical ventilation.