Nitrous Oxide Sedation in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Abstract

Entonox provides rapid and effective analgesia without heavy sedation, leads to adequate relaxation and cooperation, and facilitates quick and efficient endoscopy. The effect of Entonox was of short duration, allowing the children to leave the endoscopy unit without need for a long recovery period. The adverse effects of Entonox appeared to be minor, and their duration was always brief. Nitrous oxide-oxygen inhalation may provide a valuable alternative to conventional sedation regimens during gastrointestinal endoscopy in children, but randomized and prospective studies comparing nitrous oxide sedation and conventional sedation regimens are necessary.

Nitrous oxide analgesia for minor pediatric surgical procedures: an effective alternative to conscious sedation?

“…1,5,11 Although the favorable effects of nitrous have been lauded for over 150 years, Griffin's landmark 1983 study of over 3,000 procedures first outlined the technique for children treated as outpatients. 12 In this report, we show its usefulness in a novel setting, for inpatients and outpatients on a pediatric surgical service.…”

Entonox Efficacy for Procedural-Sedation and Analgesia in Pediatrics Undergoing Bone Marrow Aspiration: A Randomized Clinical Trial

“…Michaud et al, evaluated the efficacy of entonox for the induction of analgesia during endoscopy in pediatric and reported that prescription of entonox led to better cooperation in patients and its short duration of action decreased the recovery time in the patients, and had little side effects (17). results regarding the use of inhaled entonox during intraarticular injections in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (18).…”

Randomized controlled study of the safety and efficacy of nitrous oxide-sedated endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration for digestive tract diseases

“…Michaud and Gottrand[13] showed that the time taken to regain consciousness was short following nitrous oxide sedation, which could effectively meet the sedative requirements for children undergoing gastroscopic examination, thus providing a valuable alternative method of sedation. Michaud et al[14] compared the sedative effects of propofol and nitrous oxide in patients undergoing colonoscopy, and showed that both agents had similar sedative and pain-relieving effects, facilitated the operation, and shortened recovery time. In addition, nitrous oxide has demonstrated minimal effects on nerve function and therefore does not affect the patient’s ability to drive[15].…”