In this study we evaluated the diffusion of nitrous oxide in a few operating rooms, using spatial data modelling techniques, in order to assess hospital staff exposure and to promote risk management. Indoor air sampling was carried out, during routine operating activity, by means of transportable infrared spectrometer, with geostatistical techniques. We detected high average concentrations of n...

The effect of nitrous oxide on the growth of two types of ascites tumour in mice was investigated. The mice in the first two trials were injected with tumour cells, divided into three groups and exposed to one of the following atmospheres: (1) air; (2) 25% nitrous oxide; (3) 40% nitrous oxide. After treatment, the volume of ascites fluid and the concentration of cells were measured. It was foun...

We have studied the cardiovascular effects of nitrous oxide after cardiac ischaemia-reperfusion injury caused by aortic cross-clamping and unclamping during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). At the time of chest closure, 20 patients were allocated randomly to receive oxygen and air (FIO2 = 0.5) or 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen in addition to anaesthesia with fentanyl. Nitrous oxide signific...

The effects of nitrous oxide on the early explanted chick embryo were investigated using the technique of New (1955). After 22 hours incubation the embryos were explanted and exposed for a further 24 hours to the following gases: air, nitrous oxide (25 per cent), nitrous oxide (60 per cent), nitrous oxide (79 per cent). The oxygen concentration was maintained at normal levels (20.9 per cent) an...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether treatment with midazolam or with nitrous oxide is more efficient in facilitating intravenous (IV) access in lean and obese children and adolescents. DESIGN A prospective, double-blind, randomized trial of 90 children and adolescents. SETTING Astrid Lindgrens Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Patients A total of 60 obese ch...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Nitrous oxide is the most widely used inhalational anesthetic worldwide. Its action mechanism is broadly discussed based on results of experimental studies and clinical evidences. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, through specific monitoring, nitrous oxide electrophysiological action on the central nervous system. METHODS Twenty-five patients of both genders...

Nitrous oxide has been recognized as a product of denitrifying organisms since the early work of Gayon and Dupetit (1882a, b; 1886). Under some conditions it can be the major initial product (Wijler and Delwiche, 1954). Kluyver and Verhoeven (1954) have investigated the production of nitrous oxide by a large number of denitrifiers and conclude that its production and utilization is characterist...

OBJECTIVES Nitrous oxide is an effective sedative/analgesic for mildly to moderately painful pediatric procedures. This study evaluated the safety of nitrous oxide administered at high concentration (up to 70%) for procedural sedation. METHODS This prospective, observational study included all patients younger than 18 years who received nitrous oxide for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures a...

BACKGROUND The authors explored the relationship between nitrous oxide use and neurologic and neuropsychological outcome in a population of patients likely to experience intraoperative cerebral ischemia: those who had temporary cerebral arterial occlusion during aneurysm clipping surgery. METHODS A post hoc analysis of a subset of the data from the Intraoperative Hypothermia for Aneurysm Surg...

We have studied the effect of nitrous oxide on cerebral haemodynamics in 24 healthy male volunteers. Hemispherical cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured using the xenon-133 inhalation technique, blood flow velocities in the right middle cerebral artery were calculated using transcranial Doppler ultrasound and the pulsatility index (PI)--the inverse of which is theoretically proportional to flo...