Barotrauma, pneumothorax, and pneumomediastinum occurred in two anesthetized cats in which the waste gas outlet of a nonrebreathing circuit was occluded. To prevent any similar cases of barotrauma, we have modified our nonrebreathing circuit adapters by inserting a 15 cm H2O PEEP valve into the gas pathway of the nonrebreathing circuit adapter. This PEEP valve prevents the circuit and airway pressures from exceeding 15 cm H2O if the pop-off valve of the nonrebreathing circuit adapter is inadvertently left closed.
Anesthesia Anesthesiology