Analgesia by oxygen-nitrous oxide mixture during percutaneous renal biopsyin children.

The efficacy of an inhaled equimolar mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen (E ntonox/MEOPA) to prevent procedural pain during renal percutaneous biopsies in children was assessed. Patients and methods. - One hundred and seven children who underwent 113 re nal biopsies during a 17-month period were included in a prospective uncont rolled pediatric study. Efficacy was evaluated using patients' answers to a questionnaire and nurses' observations. Results. - Pain was absent in 86.5% of the cases. Mild adverse events were noted in one-third of the procedures, and were always reversible within a f ew minutes when the inhalation stopped. Acceptability was good. The use of this gas is easy and safe provided a few precautions are observed Conclusion. - Inhaled equimolar mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen prevent s procedural pain during renal percutaneous biopsies. (C) 2001 Editions sci entifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.