Background: Sevoflurane reacts with soda lime, generating degradation products. The concentrations of sevoflurane degradation products in a low-flow circuit have been reported for anesthesia times of less than 5 h. In this study, sevoflurane degradation products generated during low-flow anesthesia exceeding 10 h were examined. Methods: Sixteen patients received sevoflurane anesthesia with a fresh gas flow rate of 1 l/min. In eight patients, soda lime was used as the CO2 absorbent; in the other eight patients, Baralyme was used. During anesthesia, the concentrations of degradation products in the circuit, the temperature of the CO2 absorbent, inspired and end-tidal sevoflurane concentrations, and the volume of CO2 eliminated by the patient were measured. Gas was sampled from the inspiratory limb of the circuit and analyzed by gas chromatography. Results: Two degradation products, CF2 = C(CF3) - O - CH2F (compound A) and CH3OCF2CH(CF3)OCH2F (compound B), were detected. In the soda lime group, the individual maximum concentration of compound A was 23.6 +/- 2.9 (12.0-37.4) ppm. In the Baralyme group, the concentration was 32.0 +/- 2.3 (23.5-41.3) ppm. The individual maximum concentration of compound A in the Baralyme group was significant higher than that in the soda lime group. Compound B was detected in two patients, reaching a maximum concentration of 0.2 ppm. The end-tidal sevoflurane concentration, temperature of the CO2 absorbent, and volume of CO2 eliminated by the patient were the same in both groups. Conclusions: The degradation products detected were at low concentrations in long-duration, low-flow anesthesia with sevoflurane. Baralyme produced higher concentrations of degradation products than soda lime.
