The effects of subanaesthetic concentrations of xenon in volunteers.
A Bedi, C McCarroll, J M Murray, M A Stevenson, J P H Fee
Anaesthesia March 1, 2002 DOI: 10.1046/j.0003-2409.2001.02455.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized crossover study Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 10 |
| Population | Healthy male volunteers |
| Interventions | Xenon Nitrous oxide |
| Dose | 27-45% (median 35%) xenon; nitrous oxide concentration not specified |
| Measures | Critical Flicker Fusion test, derived electroencephalogram parameters |
| Key points | Xenon at subanaesthetic concentrations produced sedation that was well tolerated, with a median effective concentration of 35%, and was rated as pleasant and preferable to nitrous oxide by most subjects. |
Abstract
This study reports the subjective, psychomotor and physiological properties of subanaesthetic concentrations of xenon. Ten healthy male volunteers received either xenon or nitrous oxide in a randomised crossover study design. The subjects breathed either xenon (Xe) or nitrous oxide (N2O) from a closed circuit breathing system, according to a randomised, double-blind protocol. The concentration of xenon required to produce sedation, ranged between 27 and 45% (median 35%). All subjects completed the xenon protocol. Subjects were tested using the Critical Flicker Fusion test and derived electroencephalogram parameters, however, neither test was found to reliably predict sedation. The respiratory rate decreased markedly during sedation with xenon. The subjects did not experience any airway irritability (coughing, breath-holding or laryngospasm) during administration of either gas. One subject required anti-emetic treatment in the N2O group compared to none in the Xe group. Eight subjects reported that they found sedation with xenon pleasant and preferable to nitrous oxide. Xenon sedation was well tolerated and was not associated with any adverse physiological effects, however, it was reported to be subjectively dissimilar to nitrous oxide.