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Nitrous oxide has been
used for millions of people over a hundred years, for the most part without
incident and with fairly tolerable side-effects. While historical success should not solely
justify modern contexts, this in a way is the largest retrospective study of
nitrous oxides use.
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As a drug it is relatively
cheap, and therefore has a role in the third world and developing countries.
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There is evidence to
suggest that patients are less likely to experience awareness with nitrous
oxide than with other more modern agents.
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Using nitrous oxide in
combination with other agents reduces the amount of these more toxic agents
needed for anaesthesia, which is useful when thinking about the
cardiovascular and respiratory depressive effects of some of these drugs.
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Nitrous oxide is a
versatile agent in its own right. Age
does not mean something should not be used; while alternatives now exist, the
drug uniquely useful in its own right.
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