Nitrous oxide increases the incidence of bowel distension in patients undergoing elective colon resection.
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand
; 48(7): 894-8, 2004 Aug.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-15242436
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Nitrous oxide rapidly inflates gas-filled spaces such as the intestines; but whether the resulting bowel distension is clinically important remains unclear. We therefore tested the hypothesis that nitrous oxide produces clinically important bowel distension.METHODS:
Patients scheduled for colon resection were anesthetized with isoflurane and 35% oxygen and randomly assigned to 65% nitrous oxide (n = 175) or 65% nitrogen in air (n = 169). At the end of surgery, blinded surgeons rated the degree of bowel distension as none, mild, moderate, or severe. Patients reported pain, and nausea and vomiting (PONV) 2 h after surgery. Data are reported as means (SD). P < 0.05 was statistically significant.RESULTS:
Morphometric and demographic data were similar in the groups. The duration of surgery was 3.0 (1.2) h in the nitrous oxide group and 3.4 (1.5) h in the air group (P = 0.017). Postoperative self-reported pain scores (visual analog scale, 0-100 mm) were greater in the nitrous oxide group (43 [30] mm) than in the air group (35 [31] mm, P = 0.018). Although the incidence of PONV was similar in the groups, VAS scores for nausea were significantly greater in the nitrous oxide group (P = 0.040). Moderate-to-severe bowel distension was observed in 23% of nitrous oxide patients, but in only 9% of patients in the air group (P < 0.001). The number-needed-to-harm for moderate or severe bowel distension from nitrous oxide was thus seven.CONCLUSIONS:
Our results suggest that avoiding nitrous oxide administration during prolonged bowel operations will minimize bowel distension and possibly reduce postoperative pain related to it.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Colon
/
Enfermedades Intestinales
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Óxido Nitroso
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
/
Incidence_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged80
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand
Año:
2004
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos