Which number falls within the Low Flow range in ml/kg/min?

Which number falls within the Low Flow range in ml/kg/min?

• A. 15
• B. 25
• C. 30
• D. 50

Answer: (C)

Low Flow anesthesia uses smaller fresh gas flows expressed in ml/kg/min, so most of the gas is recirculated. This creates a middle ground between ultra-low flow (even smaller flows) and high flow (larger flows). The value that sits in this Low Flow band is the one that isn’t extremely low and isn’t large enough to be considered High Flow. In practice, using this flow level requires careful monitoring of inspired oxygen, end-tidal carbon dioxide, and the concentration of the anesthetic agent, then adjusting the fresh gas flow and vaporizers to maintain correct target levels while taking advantage of gas conservation. The other values fall outside this band, being either too low (ultra-low) or too high (high flow).

Low Flow anesthesia uses smaller fresh gas flows expressed in ml/kg/min, so most of the gas is recirculated. This creates a middle ground between ultra-low flow (even smaller flows) and high flow (larger flows). The value that sits in this Low Flow band is the one that isn’t extremely low and isn’t large enough to be considered High Flow. In practice, using this flow level requires careful monitoring of inspired oxygen, end-tidal carbon dioxide, and the concentration of the anesthetic agent, then adjusting the fresh gas flow and vaporizers to maintain correct target levels while taking advantage of gas conservation. The other values fall outside this band, being either too low (ultra-low) or too high (high flow).