Medicinal nitrous oxide/oxygen mixtures are used for analgesia and for sedation in treatment or in prevention of short term acute pain, where fast onset and offset is needed. Areas of use include, for example (but are not limited to) : dentistry, obstetrics, ambulances, emergency units, cannulization, biopsies and pediatric procedures.
Medicinal nitrous oxide/oxygen mixtures can be administered by inhalation through face or nose masks or mouth pieces either through a blender device or as fixed 50:50 mixtures. Gas flow can be controlled by a demand-valve which is activated by the patient’s inspired breath. The necessary equipment is easy to handle and allows also mobile use.
Medicinal nitrous oxide/oxygen therapy for analgesia provides sedation and pain elimination for the patient, facilitating otherwise painful procedures, and thereby potentially reducing treatment time or even the number of costly cancellation of planned procedures. This brings obvious benefits for patients, healthcare professionals and providers.