Can Xenon be used for a general anaesthetic?

With a human minimum alveolar concentration value of 0.71 12 (> twofold higher in some other species;table 1), the gas is optimally suited to be used as an inhalation anesthetic in a mixture with 30% oxygen. read more

Individual general anesthetics vary with respect to their specific physiological and cognitive effects. While general anesthesia induction may be facilitated by one general anesthetic, others may be used in parallel or subsequently to achieve and maintain the desired anesthetic state. read more

Because xenon is rare and expensive, the use of this gas as an anesthetic agent can be justified only if its waste is reduced to the absolute minimum. It must be applied via rebreathing systems using the lowest possible gas flows. read more

So that explains why xenon is a general anaesthetic agent. As it happens, that binding site is similar in size to another molecule, nitrous oxide, N2O, and nitrous oxide and xenon have similar anaesthetic properties. (Not very potent, but extremely rapid in action). read more

Although the two lowest-molecular-weight noble gases, helium and neon, have very small electron shells and no anesthetic actions, the anesthetic properties of xenon have been recognized for almost 50 yr. 1 With its filled outer electron shell, xenon exists as a monatomic gas under normothermic and normobaric conditions. read more

Researchers are also actively exploring the use of xenon as an anaesthetic. Injection. Injectable anaesthetics are used for the induction and maintenance of a state of unconsciousness. Anaesthetists prefer to use intravenous injections, as they are faster, generally less painful and more reliable than intramuscular or subcutaneous injections. read more