Elsevier

The Lancet

Volume 358, Issue 9292, 3 November 2001, Pages 1514-1515
The Lancet

Research Letters
Adverse events of premixed nitrous oxide and oxygen for procedural sedation in children

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(01)06575-8Get rights and content

Summary

In France, administration of premixed 50% nitrous oxide and oxygen for procedural sedation is under close supervision by the French Drug Agency before final approval for use. We have examined the frequency of adverse events in children sedated with 50% nitrous oxide and oxygen over a broad range of non-specialised facilities. A mean of 0·33% (SD 0·10) children had major adverse events. Thus, premixed 50% nitrous oxide and oxygen seems to be a safe option for procedural sedation in children.

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    Major side effects associated with N2O use include oxygen desaturation, airway obstruction, bradycardia, and oversedation, with a 0.33% rate of potentially life-threatening events in a prospective study. Benign and transient side effects (nausea, vomiting, dizziness or paresthesias) were also reported [4]. Bone marrow suppression with chronic use, as in patient 1, is also a known side effect of N2O [1].

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