CJA
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a scholarly reply
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by RUDOW, M.
Right arrow Articles by FINCH, J. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by RUDOW, M.
Right arrow Articles by FINCH, J. S.

Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 33, 498-501, Copyright © 1986 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

Helium-Oxygen Mixtures in Airway Obstruction Due to Thyroid Carcinoma

MARK RUDOW MD1, ANNE B. HILL MB BCH FFARCS1, NORMAN W. THOMPSON MD1, and JAY S. FINCH MD1

1 University of Michigan Medical Center, Departments of Anesthesiology and Surgery, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Address correspondence to: Dr. Anne B. Hill, Departments of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Hospital, Room 1G323, Box 0048, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.

The management of a patient with severe airway obstruction secondary to a thyroid mass is reported. When breathing room air the patient appeared in severe respiratory distress but when inspiring 22 per cent oxygen in helium she reported almost instantaneous relief and there was a marked decrease in respiratory rate, and increase in tidal volume and arterial oxygen tension. This improvement was to be expected because in situations where turbulent flow predominates a decrease in the density of inspired gases will result in an increase inflow rates. Contrary to established dogma a marked improvement was sustained when the patient was breathing 50 per cent oxygen in helium. The concentraton of oxygen in helium was adjusted to obtain subjective relief for the patient in conjunction with adequate oxygenation.

Key Words: COMPLICATIONS: airway obstruction, tracheal compression • GASES, NONANAESTHETIC: helium






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1986 by the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.