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LEAD FROM PREVIOUS SLIDE
INTO THIS ONE, I.E. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS FOR NITROUS OXIDE? YES… (GIVE EXAMPLES)
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Contraindications:
expansion into air-filled spaces
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Tendency of the gas to
increase pressure of an air-filled space in the human body due to tedancy to
diffuse into air-filled compartments
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Therefore cannot be used
in clinical settings involving air accumulation, such as pneumothorax. Also in procedures involving air-enclosed
spaces, such as middle-ear or eye surgery.
Some surgeons hold that nitrous makes closing abdominal surgery more
difficult, although more evidence is needed to support this.
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Nitrous oxide has also
been proven to increase the incidence of post operative nausea and vomiting
compared to other agents. If we can
replace nitrous with other agents that leave patients more comfortable in the
recovery room, why not? Modern
anaesthesia has developed several alternatives to nitrous. However, the increase in vomiting is only
seen in a small number of patients; treatment with anti-emetics pre-op for
these patients can prevent post-op vomiting.
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