Xenon has been proposed as an effective inhalational agent. Up to now, prob
lems of cost have prevented its clinical use. In this study, 15 patients un
dergoing abdominal surgery received a low flow or a totally closed circuit
anesthesia with a gas mixture xenon/oxygen 70:30, in order to determine xen
on expenditure and to validate a recycling system of the gas. The patients
received on average a dose of fentanyl about 40-45% less than that describe
d in the literature for a gas mixture of nitrous oxide/xenon 70:30, as a re
sult of the good analgesic effect of xenon. Xenon expenditure data showed a
low consumption after the filling of the circuit. The percentage recovered
was about 60% of pure xenon and more than 90% of xenon in a gas mixture xe
non-oxygen 70:30. Xenon anesthesia cost is now acceptable.