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On-line, real time monitoring of exhaled trace gases by SIFT-MS in the perioperative setting: a feasibility study

The first non-invasive real time analyses of exhaled breath of anaesthetized patients during the complete perioperative periods of laparoscopic surgery have been performed. The metabolites acetone and isoprene, and propofol used to induce anaesthesia, were monitored continuously for operating periods ranging from 20 to 80 min. Most interesting is the clear increase of breath isoprene for every patient following abdomen inflation with carbon dioxide. The data were immediately and constantly available to the anaesthetist and surgeon. Exploitation of this development to wide-ranging operative procedures monitoring appropriate metabolites could influence decision making and potentially improve patient safety within the perioperative setting.