Nitrous Oxide can Cause Surgical Complications

In a latest research it has been detected that the use of nitrous oxide in anesthetics increases the risk of surgical complications such as wound infections.

In a study conducted they looked at the surgical outcomes in about 19 hospitals throughout the world including UK. They compared the effects of using a mixture of 70% nitrous oxide and 30% oxygen as anesthesia to a mixture including 80% oxygen and 20% nitrogen. They found that the oxygen-nitrogen mixture resulted in half of severe vomiting and nausea cases and 30% reduction in other complications such as wound infections and pneumonia and above all the patients recovered as normally as they do with other anesthetics.

According to researcher Professor Paul Myles from Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, nitrous oxide interferes with the metabolism of some vitamins and DNA synthesis which is an important aspect in wound healing.

Despite the above findings, experts have also said that it can be used for many operations in children, women in labor, and minor operations, as it is fast acting pain killing gas.

Although nitrous oxide has its side effects, this study cannot be called the end word. But definitely this breakthrough will bring a significant change in the clinical practice of anesthesia per Harriet Hopf, University of Utah