title: Clinical study of diffusion hypoxia after nitrous oxide analgesia.
abstract: In order to estimate the incidence of diffusion hypoxia, arterial oxygen saturation was measured in 104 healthy adult dental patients who were administered nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia and who did not receive postcessation oxygen. Pretreatment saturation levels as determined by pulse oximetry ranged from 93% to 100%. When the nitrous oxide-oxygen administration ceased, the saturation levels were from 95% to 100%. The mean saturation dropped about 2% over the next 4 min and then stabilized. No patient had a posttreatment oxygen saturation of less than 92%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Public Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Quarnstrom
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Milgrom
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: DeRouen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000379:methods; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010092:Oximetry
chemical_list: D009609:Nitrous Oxide