A large scale study of 2000 patients undergoing major surgery in hospitals in Australia, UK, Asia and Middle East has raised doubts over the safety of the common anaesthetic known as laughing gas.
Australian researchers found that avoiding using nitrous oxide cut the risk of surgery complications like wound infections, pneumonia, nausea and vomiting. They also found a possible link between nitrous oxide and the risk of heart attacks and concluded that the routine use of nitrous oxide in patients undergoing major surgery should be questioned
The study "Avoidance of Nitrous Oxide for Patients Undergoing Major Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial" is published in the current issue of the journal Anesthesiology. 107(2): 221-231,August 2007 ( full text via HILO with Athens password )
Read the RCoA's response.
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