ABSTRACT
“Nitrous air” was first described by James Mayou, a 17th-century medical practitioner from Bath. The actual discovery of nitrous oxide is attributed to Joseph Priestly in 1772. Since its early use, nitrous oxide has passed through periods of greater and lesser popularity. However, its use for minor surgical procedures as a sole anesthetic agent as well as an adjunct to more potent inhalation agents continues to the present time. The greatest risk in the use of nitrous oxide is the potential for the delivery of a hypoxic mixture. This is simply avoided with the use of proper equipment. Nitrous oxide and oxygen tanks are connected to the delivery system by a flowmeter designed to prevent delivery of hypoxic mixtures. Nasal inhalers originally developed for dental procedures are the most suitable for use in office-based analgesia. Mood lability, nausea, dizziness, and disjointed behavior should be managed by reducing nitrous oxide concentration in oxygen.
