Use of a Patient-Controlled Device for Nitrous Oxide Administration to Control Procedure-Related Pain in Children and Young Adults with Cancer

A patient-controlled device for administration of 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen (Nitronox®) was used by 28 children and young adults with cancer aged 8–27 years during 40 painful diagnostic procedures. The pain experienced by 26 evaluable patients, as measured by a visual analogue scale (VAS), was significantly reduced compared to the pain experienced by 16 patients during a previous, identical painful procedure without nitrous oxide (p < 0.01 Wilcoxon 1 -sample test). Although patient-related toxicity was minimal, high levels of occupational exposure to nitrous oxide were documented during the five procedures in which room air levels were monitored.