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. 1983 Dec;30(6):187–192.

The Effects of Nitrous Oxide Administration in the Healthy Elderly: N2O Elimination and Alveolar CO2

James E O'Reilly, Gerald I Roth, James L Matheny, Donald A Falace, James C Norton
PMCID: PMC2235781  PMID: 6424516

Abstract

Healthy young and elderly males were administered sedative concentrations of nitrous oxide/oxygen (N2O/O2) under a protocol designed to mimic that used in a dental operatory. Samples of end-tidal expired gas were taken at the end of 30-minutes inhalation of, and periodically for 70 minutes after withdrawal from, nitrous oxide/oxygen. Samples were analyzed to monitor the decline of alveolar nitrous oxide levels and any changes in alveolar carbon dioxide levels, to determine if there were any age-related differences. The fall in alveolar N2O following cessation of administration was rapid, and in a double-exponental manner as was expected. No age-related difference in N2O decline was observed. Alveolar carbon dioxide (CO2) levels were lower and more variable in the elderly group. Both groups exhibited elevated CO2 levels at the end of the N2O period, and an unexplained rise in CO2 at approximately 30 min post N2O.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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