E.C.G. patterns in patients inflated with a high ether concentration

Abstract

Ether is still our main anesthetic agent in Mulago Hospital. It is a relatively safe drug, but as we are all aware, very slow, painfully slow, in settling a patient quickly enough for surgery, especially when one is faced by a very long operating list. On questioning the anesthetic staff and medical assistants at Mulago Hospital, I discovered that the majority inflated with varying concentrations of ether, the tendency being towards the conservative side. On this score, I decided, as an academic exercise, to put this issue locally on a more scientific basis and to be in a position to include it, specifically on work done here, in the teaching programme for students and medical assistants. Fifty-two (52) unselected cases have been assessed so far, of ages varying between 15-65 years and all were African. The E.M.O. Ether vapouriser, which is standard equipment in all the upcountry hospitals and in Mulago, has been used for this investigation. The concentrations used were 10%, 15% and 20%. 15% was used in the majority of cases following the lead given by the Oxford School. An E.C.G. was taken in every case before induction and continuous E.C.G. monitoring was carried out throughout the procedure - standard lead II being used. The Blood Pressure and Pulse Rate were charted at regular intervals. The premedication process is discussed, outlining the relevant findings of this study.