Advances in vaporisation: A narrative review

Abstract

The output of inhalational agents from modern vaporisers are both electronically and pneumatically controlled. They are designed to deliver set agent concentrations accurately with low fresh gas flows and possess enhanced safety features. The purpose of this review article is to give an overview of three modern vaporisers, namely, the Aladin cassette vaporiser, injection vaporisers and AnaConDa™. The Aladin cassette is integrated with Datex Ohmeda S/5 ADU and GE Aisys anaesthesia machines. The electronic vapour control unit is incorporated within the anaesthesia machine. The agent specific cassettes act as a detachable vaporising chamber. The system can work as a variable bypass and measured flow vaporiser but requires a power supply to function. Injection vaporisers can achieve the set end-tidal agent concentration very rapidly with even metabolic flow rates. Hence, anaesthetic depth can be rapidly altered with minimal wastage and theatre pollution. The two types of injection vaporisers, namely, Maquet and DIVA™ are customised to function with Maquet FLOW-i and the Drager Zeus anaesthesia machine, respectively. AnaConDa™ is a combination of vaporiser and humidity and moisture exchange filter which can be fitted in the ventilatory circuit. It is primarily designed for use in intensive care for sedation and out of operating room use.