Nitrous oxide in neuroanaesthesia: an appraisal.
A handful of recent publications have brought relevant contributions to the ongoing debate over the use of nitrous oxide in neuroanaesthesia. The present article reviews these publications. The question of whether nitrous oxide can be safely used in patients with reduced cerebral compliance and the relationship between hypocapnic vasoconstriction and nitrous oxide are discussed. The implications of the use of nitrous oxide during evoked potentials recording (motor evoked potentials and somatosensory evoked potentials) are discussed. The possible harmful effect of nitrous oxide in cerebral ischaemia is debated.
Amorim
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P
Serviço de Anestesiologia, Hospital Geral de Santo António, 4050 Porto, Portugal. pamorim@mail2.esoterica.pt