INHALATION SEDATION WITH SEVOFLURANE - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY WITH NITROUS-OXIDE

Purpose: To evaluate the possibility of using sevoflurane for inhalati on sedation. Patients and Methods: Thirty-five volunteers were divided randomly into two groups: sevoflurane group (n = 20) and nitrous oxid e (N2O) group (n = 15). At the beginning of the sedation they all inha led 100% O-2, then a 0.1 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of sevof lurane or 10% N2O with oxygen, a 0.2 MAG of sevoflurane or 20% N2O wit h oxygen, and 0.3 MAC of sevoflurane or 30% N2O with oxygen for 10 min utes each. Results: The respiratory and cardiovascular functions were stable during inhalation of the gas mixtures. There were five negative comments about breathing N2O, but none about breathing sevoflurane. C onclusion: All subjects in the sevoflurane group stated they would be willing to submit to the same inhalation procedure again.