This concern has been around for many years. I first came across it in the early '70's. The units I have worked in in the past five years have installs scavenger units. Maureen
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, 7 May 2005 8:38 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Dangers of nitrous oxide this is interesting reading thanks for sharing this with us,this gives us food for thought definately. sharon ---- Andrea Robertson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hello everyone, > > The following piece is the transcript of a news item that was on the main > ABC news last night. It has implications for women and midwives in labour > wards - operating theatres are ventilated and well scavenged for gases, but > labour wards may not be, unless there is active air conditioning system > that cleans the air, and the apparatus used by the women are fitted with > scavenger systems. > > I have completed a long review article, with the help of an English > midwife, that looks at the hazards of nitrous oxide for midwives and this > will be published in The Practising Midwife in the June/July issue. Once it > appears in print I will post it onto our website - it is very important > that midwives read this, especially if nitrous oxide is used in their hospital. > > Meanwhile, this is new evidence that will be useful... > > -------------------- > > > Study highlights anaesthetic's risks > > A new study raises serious concerns about the side-effects of nitrous > oxide, the gas commonly known as laughing gas and used in general anaesthetics. > > An Australian-led study of more than 2,000 patients in 20 hospitals around > the world has found the gas slows the recovery process and increases the > rate of serious vomiting, pneumonia and wound infections after surgery. > > The results have prompted calls from doctors for the gas to be phased out > in anaesthetics and only be used for fast pain relief in cases such as > injuries and labour pains. > > One of the study's chief investigators, Associate Professor Kate Lesley > from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, says > the results will make doctors more cautious about using the gas. > > "Some people will choose to discontinue using it, some anaesthetists, on > the basis of our study," she said. > > "Certainly in my practice I've stopped using nitrous oxide in higher-risk > patients. > > "The problem is that you have to replace it with something and some of the > other drugs that we have to use have also got significant side-effects, so > it's not cut and dried." > > > Birth complications > > Through the study, nitrous oxide has been linked to serious side-effects > including immune system defects and birth complications. > > Despite the head of the college saying that if it was banned there would be > fewer sick people, Professor Lesley says such complications are very rare. > > "It's probable that nitrous oxide use is still acceptable and perfectly > safe in people having short-term procedures," she said. > > "It is important to note that it's still safe for women in labour, so women > can feel confident that getting on nitrous oxide for a short period during > their labour pain is not dangerous." > > The gas has been used in medicine for more than 150 years but such > side-effects have only now been researched. > > The study is the first to find faults in such a widely used anaesthetic. > > "The college of anaesthetists in Australia has been successful in putting > together these very large trials and carrying them out successfully," > Associate Professor Lesley said. > > "In the past anaesthesia and surgery were very dangerous anyway and > anaesthesia has become so safe now, we're refining it more and more, and > more subtle problems that we have are becoming obvious." > > ----------------- > > Regards > > Andrea > > ----- > Andrea Robertson > Birth International * ACE Graphics * Associates in Childbirth Education > > e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > web: www.birthinternational.com > > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
