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Estimation of nitrous oxide in blood
Author(s) -
SALOOJEE YUSSUF,
COLE PETER
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1978.tb08493.x
Subject(s) - nitrous oxide , medicine , coefficient of variation , anesthesia , liter , detector , nuclear medicine , chromatography , optics , physics , chemistry
The estimation of nitrous oxide (N20) at trace and analgesic levels in whole blood is described. A micro-ionisation cross section (MICS) detector was used to measure trace levels of N2O (0.69 to 17.88 mumol N20/litre of blood); whilst a thermal conductivity (TC) detector was used to determine levels from 0.17 to 13.34 mmol N20/litre of blood. The coefficient of variation was 1.3% and 3.2% for the TC and MICS detectors respectively. The technique equals the precision of previously described methods but is considerably quicker. It appears to be suitable for use in the measurement of blood levels of N20 in both theatre personnel and patients undergoing anaesthesia.