title: Noninvasive assessment of diffusion hypoxia following administration of nitrous oxide-oxygen.
abstract: The phenomenon of diffusion hypoxia is commonly believed to occur unless nitrous oxide-oxygen inhalation sedation is followed by "washout" with 100% oxygen for 5 minutes upon termination of the flow of nitrous oxide. When systematically studied, however, this phenomenon generally appears to be unfounded. The present study evaluated the effect of breathing room air instead of 100% oxygen in healthy (ASA 1) human volunteers following administration of sedative concentrations of nitrous oxide. The occurrence of hypoxia was determined objectively, using pulse oximetry and a standardized psychomotor skills test (Trieger test). Diffusion hypoxia was not observed using these criteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Medical School-Houston, 77030, USA. Arthur.H.Jeske@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Arthur H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Jeske
authors.forename: Clark W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Whitmire
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Freels
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fuentes
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods; D004058:Diffusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D010100:Oxygen