Abstract
Nitrous oxide's safety and efficacy for minor procedures is an alternative to general anesthesia, complex sedation protocols, or local anesthetic alone. A retrospective review of prospectively-collected data (2000-2012) identified 1,058 children who received single-agent nitrous oxide for minor surgery. Children (n=1,058, male 42%, female 58%) aged 1-23years (mean=9.8+5.1years) were identified. Only nine children (0.9%) fasted. ASA status was I-II in 1,053 (99.5%) of patients; five (0.5%) had an ASA III. There were no major complications (desaturation, emergency admission, apnea, airway obstruction, bradycardia) or aborted procedures. Minor complications occurred in 1.8%; there was no association between these complications and ASA, fasting status or maximum nitrous oxide percentage administered (all p>0.05). Post-operatively, 98% of patients denied getting an injection. Eighty-two percent reported mild or no procedural pain. This is the longest reported study using non-anesthesiologist-administered nitrous oxide as a single-agent for minor surgical procedures. The technique provides safe sedation and excellent amnesia, allowing pain and anxiety-reduced surgery with no fasting or postoperative monitoring.
Published Version
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