nitrous oxide
noun[U]
chemistryspecializeduk/ˌnaɪ.trəs ˈɒk.saɪd/us/ˌnaɪ.trəs ˈɑːk.saɪd/(alsoinformallaughing gas)agaswith afaintsweetsmellthat can bebreathedin withoxygentoreducepain, forexampleduringchildbirthormedicalexaminations:
Heperformedover 20surgicalproceduresusing nitrousoxideas theanaesthetic.
Nitrousoxidegasand pethidine can beusefulanalgesicsduringlabour.
See also
gas and air
- Nitrousoxideis used as ananaesthetic, and alsoreleasednaturallyfrombacteriainsoils.
- Themajorityofpatientswhoreceiveproceduralpainreliefusing nitrousoxideandoxygendo so athealthcentres.
- Nitrousoxidehas beenreportedtoproducecardiovasculardepressionwhen given withhigherdosesof fentanyl.
Chemical elements
- actinium
- alkali metal
- americium
- astatine
- berkelium
- brimstone
- bromine
- calcium
- fluorine
- germanium
- lithium
- manganese
- nickel
- plutonium
- quicksilver
- selenium
- silicon
- sodium
- sulphur
- transition metal