Original contribution
Prehospital administration of nitrous oxide for control of pain

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0196-0644(81)80049-2Get rights and content

The effects of 50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen and of 30% nitrous oxide and 70% oxygen were evaluated in 88 patients with significant pain while in the prehospital setting. Under the telemetry physicians' supervision, EMT-Ps directed patients in the technique of self-administration of the analgesic gas. Fifty percent (36/72) reported complete or almost complete amelioration of pain; all but 15% (11/72) reported some degree of relief. No patients experienced clinically deleterious side effects, although 48% (41/85) reported side effects, of which 90% were mild. The analgesic properties, lack of complications, quick onset and short duration of action, and acceptance by patients, physicians, and paramedics make N2O a nearly ideal analgesic agent for advanced life support use in the prehospital relief of significant pain.

References (14)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (23)

  • Is Nitrous Oxide Associated With Outcome?

    2022, Evidence-Based Practice of Anesthesiology
  • Compliance with a Morphine Protocol and Effect on Pain Relief in Out-of-Hospital Patients

    2008, Journal of Emergency Medicine
    Citation Excerpt :

    These patients must be identified early in the pre-hospital management to improve pain relief. In fact, when the VAS scores are very high and when the first bolus of morphine doesn’t give the expected relief, additional analgesics may be used early to improve pain relief (43–45). The results were not different between the trauma group and other illnesses except for total morphine doses, which were higher in the trauma group.

  • Prehospital and emergency room pain management for the adult trauma patient

    2002, Techniques in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management
    Citation Excerpt :

    It is simple to use, has a rapid onset, is reversible, and has a short duration of action. It is effective for moderate pain.13 Although often used in the United Kingdom, many limitations have been observed in other European emergency medical services: the patient has to be cooperative and air in any cavity and head injury are classic contraindications.

View all citing articles on Scopus

Presented at the American College of Emergency Physicians Scientific Assembly in Las Vegas, Nevada, September 1980.

View full text