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Hyperbaric Nitrous Oxide as a Sole Anesthetic Agent in Humans

Received from the Department of Anesthesia, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, University Hospital, The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania; and the Noll Laboratory for Human Performance Research, the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) has been used to produce analgesia and anesthesia for more than 100 yr. However, because of its high MAC value (1.04), general anesthesia with N₂O can usually be attained only in a hyperbaric environment. Because of the sparsity of documentation for human physiologic responses to hyperbaric N₂O, we studied eight male volunteers at 2 ATA (1520 mm Hg) anesthetized with N₂O only for periods of 2–4 h. N₂O partial pressures ranged from 836 to 1368 mm Hg. The anesthetic state was associated with tachypnea, tachycardia, increases in systemic blood pressure, mydriasis, diaphoresis, and at times, clonus and opisthotonus. A stable level of physiologic activity was difficult to maintain.

Key Words: ANESTHETICS, GASES—nitrous oxide • HYPERBARIA, NITROUS OXIDE