Fetotoxicity in Rats Following Chronic Exposure to Halothane, Nitrous Oxide, or Methoxyflurane

Pope, W. D. B.; Halsey, Michael J.; Lansdown, A. B. G.; Simmonds, Alma B.; Bateman, P. E.

doi:10.1097/00000542-197801000-00003

Cited by 63 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…In a recently published study (66), however, pregnant rats exposed day and night for 19 d to a mixture of 0.5 % nitrous oxide in air, ie, about the same level of pollution as in operating rooms, showed a much greater percentage of damage to the fetus, ie, fetal resorption and skeletal anomalies, in comparison with nonexposed rats. In another study (54) an animal model was used to investigate the fetal toxicity of halothane, nitrous oxide, and methoxyflurane. High subanesthetic concentrations of all the inhalation anesthetics could cause fetal growth retardation, but this phenomenon was unaccompanied by significant fetal loss.…”

Section: Animal Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anesthetic gases as an occupational hazard--a review.

Edling¹

1980

Scand J Work Environ Health

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Section: Animal Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anesthetic gases as an occupational hazard--a review.

Edling¹

1980

Scand J Work Environ Health

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“…Intermittent exposure during pregnancy to 5000 ppm N20 (Vieira et al 1983) or exposure up to 50% N 20 for less than 24 hours did not appear to have any teratogenic effects in other animal studies (Mazze et al 1982;Pope et al 1978).…”

Section: The Reproductive Systemmentioning

confidence: 65%

Adverse Effects of Nitrous Oxide

Brodsky

Cohen

1986

Medical Toxicology

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Although once considered completely devoid of complications, it is now recognised that the misuse or inappropriate use of nitrous oxide (N2O) often results in adverse side effects. Hypoxia, particularly the entity 'diffusion hypoxia', can occur with the administration of inadequate amounts of oxygen during or immediately after a N2O anaesthetic. N2O will diffuse into air-containing cavities within the body faster than nitrogen diffuses out. This results in a temporary increase in either the pressure and/or volume of the cavity depending upon the distensibility of its walls. The magnitude of the effect is proportional to the blood supply of the cavity, the concentration of N2O inhaled and the length of time the patient is exposed to N2O. Significant morbidity or even death can result from this phenomenon. A property unique to N2O is its ability to oxidise and inactivate the vitamin B12 components of certain enzymes in both animals and man. One such enzyme, methionine synthetase is essential for normal DNA production. Animal and human studies have demonstrated that the haematological, immune, neurological and reproductive systems are each affected. These adverse effects of N2O can occur after both acute (surgical) or long term (occupational) exposure to the gas. Because of its effects on the pressure and volume characteristics of air-containing spaces, N2O should not be used for patients with bowel obstruction, pneumothorax, middle ear and sinus disease, and following cerebral air-contrast studies. Many anaesthesiologists feel that use of N2O should be restricted during the first two trimesters of pregnancy because of its effects on DNA production and the experimental and epidemiological evidence that N2O causes undesirable reproductive outcomes. Since N2O affects white blood cell production and function, it has been recommended that N2O not be administered to immunosuppressed patients or to patients requiring multiple general anaesthetics. Many anaesthesiologists believe that the potential dangers of N2O are so great that it should no longer be used at all for routine clinical anaesthesia. However, the continued use of N2O remains a controversial topic since, at present, a suitable substitute gas is not available.

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“…This inspired much experimental and epidemiological research, particularly into the abortifacient, foetotoxic and teratogenic risk of chronic exposure to low levels of anaesthetics. The earliest work (Fink, Shepard & Blandau, 1967;Basford & Fink, 1968) cast suspicion on nitrous oxide and halothane as teratogens, but more recent experiments in our laboratory (Lansdown, Pope, Halsey & Bateman, 1976;Pope, Halsey, Lansdown, Simmonds & Bateman, 1978) in which pregnant rats were exposed throughout pregnancy to concentrations of anaesthetics at least 500 times those likely to occur in an operating theatre, failed to show any teratogenicity or increased foetal loss. Similarly, no teratogenic or abortifacient effect could be attributed to prolonged exposure to combinations of halothane and nitrous oxide at pollution concentrations (Coate, Kapp & Lewis, 1979).…”

Section: Risks To Pregnant Women and The Unborn Childmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anaesthetic gases and health risks to laboratory personnel: a review

Green

1981

Lab Anim

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The evidence that chronic exposure to inhalational anaesthetic agents may be associated with psychomotor, hepatic and renal dysfunction, to increased susceptibility to infections and neoplastic disease, and to an increased incidence of miscarriages and foetal abnormalities, is discussed. The risk to pregnant women seems greatest after exposure to rather high concentrations of nitrous oxide. Although it is not suggested that all laboratory premises will be equally at risk, such levels as 400 ppm halothane and 8000 ppm nitrous oxide can build up in small poorly-ventilated rooms when these agents are used for several hours at a time. A strong plea is entered for all to be aware of the hazard and to ensure that good ventilation and preferably, purpose-built scavenging equipment are installed wherever inhalational agents are used.

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Fetotoxicity in Rats Following Chronic Exposure to Halothane, Nitrous Oxide, or Methoxyflurane

Cited by 63 publications

References 0 publications

Anesthetic gases as an occupational hazard--a review.

Anesthetic gases as an occupational hazard--a review.

Adverse Effects of Nitrous Oxide

Anaesthetic gases and health risks to laboratory personnel: a review

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