Anaesthesiologie und Reanimation
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The routine use of nitrous oxide as a component of the carrier gas has been unanimously called into question in recent surveys, in fact, its use is now recommended in indicated cases only. Whereas a lot of contraindications are listed in the surveys, precise definitions of justified indications are not given. In clinical routine practice, there are absolutely no problems in carrying out inhalational anaesthesia without nitrous oxide. ⋯ Furthermore, these calculations disregard the cost of the technical maintenance fo the central gas piping system and of the regular measurement of workplace contamination with nitrous oxide by a certified institute, which in Germany, ad least, is obligatory. The additional costs of nitrous oxide-free inhalational anaesthesia seem to be balanced by the savings. Given the numerous justified arguments against the routine use of nitrous oxide, the lack of precisely-defined indications and the clinical experience showing that doing without nitrous oxide is uncomplicated, self-financing and ecologically beneficial, the use of nitrous oxide should be given up completely.
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Anaesthesiol Reanim · Jan 2000
Review Comparative Study[Perioperative management with short-acting intravenous anesthetics].
Total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) with short-acting drugs is a standard procedure for day case surgery and is increasingly used for neurosurgical, cardiac surgical and paediatric surgical operations. The combination of propofol with alfentanil or remifentanil is frequently applied due to its favourable pharmacological properties. Propofol is characterized by a large volume of distribution at steady state and a relatively long elimination half time (t1/2 beta). ⋯ Adequate pain therapy is mandatory after total intravenous anaesthesia with short-acting drugs. Continuous infusion of remifentanil for postoperative analgesia or supplementation of regional anaesthesia requires careful monitoring of vital functions. The economic aspects of TIVA remain to be determined.