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Effect of nitrous oxide on human skeletal muscle function
Author(s) -
Eiken O.,
Tesch P. A.,
Mejkavic I. B.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1996.tb04473.x
Subject(s) - medicine , nitrous oxide , skeletal muscle , function (biology) , anesthesia , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Background: Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is commonly administered in conjunction with parturition, which requires the performance of repeated high‐force voluntary muscle actions. Therefore, we examined the effect of a subanesthetic dose of N 2 O on the force‐velocity relationship of the quadriceps femoris muscle. Methods: Nine healthy subjects performed maximal voluntary muscle actions once while breathing air and once while breathing a normoxic gas mixture containing 35% (N 2 O). Peak torque of the knee extensors was measured during concentric muscle contractions at different angular velocities (30, 60, 90, 150 and 210°s ‐1 ), and eccentric (30, 60, 90 and 150°s ‐1 ) and isometric (knee‐joint angle=60°) muscle actions. Maximal angular velocity was determined during unloaded knee extensions. Results: N 2 O decreased peak torque at any given angular velocity. The overall decrease in peak torque averaged 4.8±2.2% (P<0.001). Likewise, N 2 O decreased maximal angular velocity by 5.7±4.3% (P<0.01). Thus, the impairment in muscle function induced by a 35% N 2 O is only minute and hence most likely of little significance in clinical practice.