O uso do analisador de anestésicos inalatórios como método de detecção de falha no aparelho de anestesia e prevenção de consciência no per-operatório. Relato de caso

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although rare, intraoperative awareness is a severe general anesthesia complication. Anesthesia machine malfunction is one of several causes for anesthetic complications, among them intraoperative awareness. This report aimed at showing a case where the volatile anesthetic monitor has detected machine malfunction which could have led to intraoperative awareness, CASE REPORT: Female patient, 38 years old, 55 kg, physical status ASA I, with right breast cancer, admitted for radical mastectomy and immediate myocutaneous flap reconstruction. Epidural puncture was performed at T 8-T9 with a 17-gauge Tuohy epidural needle followed by the introduction of 18-gauge epidural catheter and administration of 0.2% ropivacaine. General anesthesia was then induced, followed by sevoflurane vaporization. Although other monitoring parameters have not detected relevant findings, the inhalational anesthetic monitor has not identified the presence of sevoflurane, thus allowing the diagnostic of vaporizer leakage. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, intraoperative awareness is a severe complication which should be prevented. Routine and thorough anesthesia equipment inspection before its use may minimize failure. The inhalational anesthetics monitor is useful whenever inhaled anesthetics are being used and may early detect anesthesia machine failures as in this case report.