The concentration effect can be mimicked by a decrease in blood solubility
Eger, E.I.; Smith, R.A.; Koblin, D.D.
Anesthesiology 49(4): 282-284
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-3022 PMID: 697085 Document Number: 132186
A computer simulation was used to explain the concentration effect which was defined as the impact of the inspired anesthetic, e.g., N2O, concentration on the rate at which the alveolar concentration rose toward the inspired concentration. The simulation took into account the concentration of residual gas in the lungs that resulted from uptake of a large volume of anesthetic and the increase in input ventilation that accompanied this uptake. To determine the level of anesthesia, the anesthetic partial pressure in all tissues of the body must approach alveolar anesthetic partial pressure. The equation formulated stated that the apparent solubility of an agent decreased in proportion to the inspired concentration. Several hypothetical cases in animals were also presented.