Patient leaflet - Medical Carbon Dioxide
1. WHAT MEDICAL CARBON DIOXIDE IS AND WHAT IS IT USED FOR
Medical Carbon Dioxide is a liquefied medicinal gas, supplied in cylinders filled to a high pressure. Medical Carbon Dioxide may be used in the following situations:
- to expand the blood vessels if required • to stimulate breathing after a period of non-breathing
- to increase Carbon Dioxide levels after a period of rapid breathing
- during bodily investigations
- to inflate body cavities during surgery (such as key-hole surgery)
- in solid form (dry ice) for freezing of tissue and removal of warts.
If Medical Carbon Dioxide is given to you to breathe, it will always be given to you with Medical Oxygen.
2. THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE USE
Medical Carbon Dioxide is only given to you in a hospital or clinic under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Ensure that your healthcare professional is aware of any medical conditions that you may have.
Do not use Medical Carbon Dioxide:
if your blood or tissues are high in acid • if you have obstructive lung disease such as
chronic bronchitis or emphysema because it can increase breathing difficulties
Carbon Dioxide should not be used during resuscitation
Taking other medicines
Medical Carbon Dioxide can affect other medicines in the body, including those taken for treating high blood pressure and muscle relaxants.
Medical Carbon Dioxide should not be used with adrenaline or similar drugs.
Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Pregnancy and breast feeding
The use of Medical Carbon Dioxide is not recommended during pregnancy. Medical Carbon Dioxide will not affect you or your baby if used during breast-feeding.
Driving and using machines
You may drive and use machines after using Medical Carbon Dioxide providing that your healthcare professional considers that you are both fit and capable.
3. HOW TO USE MEDICALCARBON DIOXIDE
Instructions for use
Your healthcare professional will ensure that your Medical Carbon Dioxide supply is suitable for your use and that the equipment has been set up correctly so that you receive the right amount of gas.
When you are given your Medical Carbon Dioxide to breathe as a mixture with other medical gases, it will be supplied via a facemask, mouthpiece or endotracheal tube (which is placed down your airways).
Special medical equipment will be used if it is being used to inflate parts of your body during keyhole surgery or gynaecological procedures.
If you have any further questions on how this product is used, ask your healthcare professional.
If you use more Medical Carbon Dioxide than you should
When Medical Carbon Dioxide is supplied at concentrations higher than 5%, it may cause extreme breathing difficulties, raised blood pressure, cause nausea and vomiting and occasionally unconsciousness.
In the event of an overdose your healthcare professional will stop administration and continue appropriate care.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your healthcare professional.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Medical Carbon Dioxide may cause side effects, although not everyone will get them.
The side effects which may occur are:
breathing difficulties, raised blood pressure and
sickness if administered in concentrations over 5%
dizziness if administered in concentrations
above 8%
unconsciousness if administered in
concentrations above 12.5%.
Less common side effects which may occur are: • heart rhythm problems, when high levels
of Carbon Dioxide enter the blood during laparoscopy
heart attacks due to gas bubbles in the
bloodstream.
Reporting of side effects
If you experience any of these side effects, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, contact your healthcare professional immediately. You can also report side effects directly to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) via the Yellow Card Scheme www. mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard and to BOC Healthcare. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. HOW TO STORE COMPRESSED MEDICAL OXYGEN CYLINDERS
Expiry date
Medical Carbon Dioxide should not be used after the expiry date stated on the batch label on the cylinder.
Product should be used in strict rotation so that cylinders with the earliest expiry date are used first
Cylinder storage
Cylinders should be securely stored, in a well ventilated, dry and clean area, away from oils, greases, flammable materials and sources of extreme temperature.
The healthcare professional in the hospital or clinic will be responsible for making sure the cylinders are stored correctly.
DO NOT SMOKE or have a naked flame near your Carbon Dioxide gas cylinder.
NEVER se oil based moisturising creams with your cylinder equipment.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION
What Medical Carbon Dioxide contains: Your Medical Carbon Dioxide cylinder contains a minimum of 99.5% (min) Carbon Dioxide. There are no other ingredients.
Medical Carbon Dioxide cylinders
Medical Carbon Dioxide is supplied in the following size cylinders:
Cylinder Size Cylinder Contents
(Litres)
C 450
E 1800
LF 3600
VF 3600
The colour coding of the shoulder of Medical
Carbon Dioxide cylinders is grey. The body is colour coded white.
For a limited period cylinders may have a grey
body.
Shoulder of cylinders viewed from above
Body of cylinder types viewed from the side
All cylinders require separate pressure regulators to be fitted to the cylinder valve before use
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer BOC Limited
Forge
43 Church Street West
Woking
Surrey
GU21 6HT
Tel 0800 111 333
bochealthcare-uk@boc.com
bochealthcare.co.uk
This leaflet was last approved in
BOC Healthcare
Customer Service Centre, Priestley Road, Worsley, Manchester M28 2UT, United Kingdom Tel 0800 111 333, Fax 0800 111 555, bochealthcare-uk@boc.com, bochealthcare.co.uk BOC Healthcare is the trading name of BOC Limited registered office, Forge, 43 Church Street West, Woking, Surrey GU21 6HT, England. Company number 337663 – English Register. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, register number 715528. BOC is a company name used by Linde plc and its affiliates. The BOC logo and the BOC word are trademarks or registered trademarks of Linde plc or its affiliates. Copyright © 2013–2022. BOC Ltd.