Anaesthetic Breathing Circuits
There are lots of different ways of classifying circuits, this is one useful classification. There can be lots of confusing minor variations!
Semi-closed circuits
These usually do not involve the animal rebreathing gas, but this depends on how they are used. More...
- Mapleson A
- Mapleson D
- Mapleson E (works the same way as a D)
Closed circuits
These nearly always force the animal to rebreathe gas. They can be fully closed, where the fresh gas flow equals the animal's oxygen requirements, or, more commonly, partially closed, where a higher fresh gas flow rate is used.
Open and semi-open systems are obselete and you should not come across them.
