Nitrous oxide inhalation for transoesophageal echocardiography: an alternative to benzodiazepine sedation?

摘要

Aims Transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is usually performed using benzodiazepine sedation, which is a limiting factor for elderly patients or those with respiratory insufficiency. Kalinox®, an equimolar mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen, with no depressive respiratory action and fast reversible effects, seems ideally suited for performing TEE but has never been evaluated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the TEE feasibility and efficiency using Kalinox compared with the standard care using benzodiazepine.