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Mechanism and Prevention of Inert Gas Narcosis and Anaesthesia

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Abstract

BECAUSE of the raised partial pressure of nitrogen, compressed air induces symptoms of narcosis similar to those of the volatile anaesthetics1,2. Inert gases of the noble gas series, except possibly helium and neon3,4, also cause narcosis and anaesthesia. Many mechanisms have been suggested for this narcosis1,2,5–10 but those involving polarizability and molecular size seem most probable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Naval Physiological Laboratory, Fort Road, Alverstoke, Gosport, Hampshire

    P. B. BENNETT & A. N. DOSSETT

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  1. P. B. BENNETT
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  2. A. N. DOSSETT
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BENNETT, P., DOSSETT, A. Mechanism and Prevention of Inert Gas Narcosis and Anaesthesia. Nature 228, 1317–1318 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/2281317a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2281317a0

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