Summary
In the newborn, the uptake of nitrous oxide into the alveolus is very rapid, as is the fall in alveolar levels following withdrawal of the agent.
During recovery relatively large volumes of nitrous oxide are excreted in the first minute, after which the excretion rate rapidly declines, most of the gas having been eliminated.
Résumé
Ľélévation de la concentration alvéolaire de protoxyde ďazote se fait très rapidement chez le nouveau-né. De même, les concentrations alvéolaires tombent très rapidement dès que ľon cesse son administration. On observe alors une élimination rapide de cet agent au cours de la première minute, puis la vitesse ďélimination tombe rapidement, la plus grande partie du protoxyde ayant été éliminée.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Salanitre, E. &Rackow, H. The pulmonary exchange of nitrous oxide and halothane in infants and children. Anesthesiology30(4): 388–394 (1969).
Salanitre, E. &Rackow, H. N2O volumes absorbed and excreted during N2O anesthesia in children. Anesthesia and Analgesia, current researches.55(1): 95–99 (1976).
Sheffer, L., Stefferson, J.L., &Birch, A.A. Nitrous oxide-induced diffusion hypoxia in patients breathing spontaneously. Anesthesiology37(4): 436–439 (1972).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Steward, D.J., Creighton, R.E. The uptake and excretion of nitrous oxide in the newborn. Can. Anaesth. Soc. J. 25, 215–217 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03004882
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03004882