Nitrous Oxie-Curare Anesthesia: Reappraisal

Of the many inhalation drugs available today, nitrous oxide is the only one which is both non-explosive and non-toxic. Although the compound is rarely listed as a primary agent, it is used on almost every patient. The usefulness of nitrous oxide tends to be dismissed because it is considered to be relatively weak. However, with the continuing trend toward lighter anesthesia seen during the past quarter century, this viewpoint is no longer reasonable. The fact that MAC for halothane can be reduced to one third by the addition of 70% nitrous oxide attests to the drug\u27s potency