RE: [ozmidwifery] Dangers of nitrous oxide
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: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au 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.
Re: [ozmidwifery] Dangers of nitrous oxide
hi this is off the track of this email but i was wondering is there any studies which compare the use of rectal and axilla temps on neonates. i have been looking for the evidence to present to the unit where i am currently working as a Graduate midwife and even though we had been told numerous times at uni that axilla temp does not differ from rectal i cant seem to find the evidence to back this up. the only piece of evidence which i found i couldnt down load from the site recommended neonates had their temps taken tympanically as the ambient temp of the room also assisted with the inaccurate temperature recording of the neonate. any help finding out this information would be greatly appreciated not only for my own use but hopefully i can get protocol changed where i work. regards 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.
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.
[ozmidwifery] Dangers of nitrous oxide
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.
