B64-02 No Laughing Matter: A Case Report on Complications of Nitrous Oxide Use Leading to Pulmonary Embolism Requiring Thrombectomy
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine May 1, 2026 R. Culver, A. Weiß, S. Batra
Nitrous oxide (N2O), historically called “laughing gas”, is a common inhalant used as a recreational hallucinogenic [1]. Patients with a history of habitual N2O use have been found to have prothrombotic complications, with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), or cerebral vascular injuries [1,2,3]. Chronic exposure to N2O disrupts folate dependent pathways by inactivating vitamin...