Nitronox

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 13, 2002

never heard of it. sorry i can't help you.

Natalieboo · Aug 13, 2002

Never heard of Nitronox or never heard of getting violently ill? Maybe it's different because I am in Canada but Nitronox here is a mixture of 50% Nitrous Oxide and 50% Oxygen (commonly known as Laughing Gas) that is inhaled to take the edge off ctx

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 13, 2002

OHH---I have heard of NITROUS! But we dont' generally use it for labor pain relief that I have ever seen or heard of in the USA. Now, dental offices do use it here to reduce anxiety,tho, and with some success in some.

I have heard of "getting Gas" or "whiffs" in Great Britain and other countries, for labor, but I have never seen it done in the US. And yes, nitrous CAN cause some people to "flip out" but is usually reversible with concentrated oxygen administered by tight facial mask in a few minutes....violently ill? maybe. depends on liver metabolism, i would bet, or lack thereof. Not too smart here. I would refer you to an anesthesia expert for more info on this! Good luck!

shay · Aug 13, 2002

Linking your question in the CRNA forum......................

kmchugh · Aug 13, 2002

There are some studies that show a weak link between use of N2O (nitrous) and postoperative nausea. However,the link is weak. So, bottom line, N2O may cause nausea, but then again, it may not. The question I have for you is how have you seen it used? I mean, giving N2O with O2 alone for labor pain seems kind of worthless, since N2O has no pain relieving qualities, and needs to be delivered at concentrations greater than 100% to acheive anesthetic effect.

Kevin McHugh, CRNA

lgcv · Aug 13, 2002

Nitrous oxide is associated with post operative nausea. This is largely the indirect result of diffusion of nitrous into air spaces...ie the gi tract. Some people would argue that it does not increase the risk of N/V, but most of the literature says it does.

Most people who become violently ill after anesthesia seem to do it regardless of our attempts to prevent it, this is because there are a myriad of factors contributing to it rather than just one drug. Makes it harder to prevent.

Natalieboo · Aug 14, 2002

Thanks so much for the information!! I am also shocked that this isn't used in the U.S. for labour. Not that I have seen it work or anything.. only one of my clients used it for a few seconds and it just made her feel dizzy and gross.

nilepoc · Aug 14, 2002

BTW

Check out todays USA today, it has on article on anesthesia for OB and specifically mentions NO2 treatment and its lack of use in the US. I found the article quite timely to your question.

Craig

GailWHNP · Aug 15, 2002

We use nitrous oxide during labor . . . well, rarely. When used, it's during transition. Women who use it do appear to relax more during the contractions and say it helps.

Gail

(This is in the US)