Laughing Gas in a Pediatric Emergency Department-Fun for All Participants Vitamin B-12 Status Among Medical Staff Working With Nitrous Oxide

摘要

The efficiency of nitrous oxide in an equimolar mixture with oxygen or in concentrations up to 70% is approved for short painful procedures. Evaluation of the vitamin B-12 levels in anesthetic staff applying nitrous oxide showed reduced vitamin B-12 plasma levels. This study examines the vitamin B-12 status of medical staff working with nitrous oxide in a pediatric emergency department (ED). Medical staff of the ED at the University Children's Hospital Zurich participated. The vitamin B-12 status was evaluated by measuring homocysteine, methylmalonic acid, vitamin B-12, blood count, and the MTHFR C677T genotype. As a control group, medical personnel working in the "nitrous oxide-free" pediatric intensive care unit were recruited.