The safety of nitrous oxide: glass half-full or half-empty?

Systematic ReviewSystematic ReviewPubMedJournal ArticleNovember 17, 2024PMID: 38816332 DOI

Abstract

A systematic review of clinical trials confirms that including nitrous oxide in the gas mixture for general anaesthesia has minor short-term benefits and does not impact most patient safety outcomes. However, no risk-benefit analysis of nitrous oxide should ignore its known environmental effects. If continued nitrous oxide use is supported, strategies to minimise and monitor the contribution of medical nitrous oxide to global warming are vital.

Authors (2)

LeadDepartment of Critical Care, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Anaesthesia, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Electronic address: phil.peyton@austin.org.au.

Department of Critical Care, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

MeSH Terms

HumansAnesthesia, GeneralAnesthetics, Inhalation

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The safety of nitrous oxide: glass half-full or half-empty?

Abstract

Authors (2)

MeSH Terms

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