Inhalation sedation with sevoflurane: a comparative study with nitrous oxide.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the possibility of using sevoflurane for inhalation sedation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-five volunteers were divided randomly into two groups: sevoflurane group (n = 20) and nitrous oxide (N2O) group (n = 15). At the beginning of the sedation they all inhaled 100% O2, then a 0.1 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane or 10% N2O with oxygen, a 0.2 MAC of sevoflurane or 20% N2O with oxygen, and 0.3 MAC of sevoflurane or 30% N2O with oxygen for 10 minutes each. RESULTS: The respiratory and cardiovascular functions were stable during inhalation of the gas mixtures. There were five negative comments about breathing N2O, but none about breathing sevoflurane. CONCLUSION: All subjects in the sevoflurane group stated they would be willing to submit to the same inhalation procedure again.