Pharmacology RSM NITROUS OXIDE PRACTICAL

Answer the following questions (do not exceed the space allocated):

1. Distinguish between analgesia, local anaesthesia and general anaesthesia.

General anaesthesia is used to put patient into a total unconsciousness while local

anaesthesia is for numbing certain area of body. Analgesia is used to relief pain.

2. Why, if nitrous oxide is never used as the sole anaesthetic during surgery, should it be

used at all?

Nitrous oxide has the most rapid onset of the inhalation agent because of its inert

properties and it is quickly removed from the body. It also has low potency.

3. Name two classes (or types) of analgesic drugs that are not anaesthetic in routine use

and give a named drug example of class .

a) Opioids – Codeine

b) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) - Ibuprofen

4 Suggest mechanisms and sites within the CNS by which nitrous oxide may cause

changes in the pain threshold and performance in digit copying and substitution tests

conducted in this practical.

Nitrous oxide potentiate the action of GABA at GABAA. NMDA receptors are also an

important site because it is blocked by NO2.

5. Suggest reasons for the variations in the effects of (the same concentration) of nitrous

oxide on feelings, sensations and behaviour in different individuals.

Rate of absorption in GI tract vary from one people to another.

6. This practical involving volunteer human subjects was categorised by the University of
Manchester
Committee on the Ethics of Research on Human Beings as being:
(a) Band: 0 1 2 3 4 5
(underline the correct number)
(b) What is the major determinant of this categorisation?

Because it needs supervision of medically-qualified personnel

7. This practical required the consent of each volunteer to participate; state three
important ethical issues when acquiring volunteer consent.

(a) Participation is voluntary.

(b) Individual is free to refuse to participate and withdraw from the research at any time.

(c) Individual is to be informed with purpose and procedures of the research.

Using the Class Results, complete the following Table for Pain Threshold data and
answer questions 8 –10. Include the table with your report

8. Is the pain threshold for the group of volunteers breathing 20% nitrous oxide
significantly different from the pain threshold of the group of subjects breathing room
air during the experimental period? (delete inappropriate option) YES using
UNPAIRED t-test analysis
t = 2.717 (enter your value), P = 0.0087(enter your value)

9. Is the pain threshold for the group of volunteers breathing 20% nitrous oxide
significantly different from the pain threshold of this group of subjects when breathing
room air during the control period? (delete inappropriate option) NO using
PAIRED t-test analysis
t = 0.9470 (enter your value), P = 0.3515 (enter your value)

10. Is the pain threshold for the group of volunteers breathing 40% nitrous oxide
significantly different from the pain threshold of the group of subjects breathing room
 air during the experimental period? (delete inappropriate option) YES using
UNPAIRED t-test analysis
t = 2.875 (enter your value), P = 0.0056 (enter your value)
Pain Threshold (Time, seconds)

Gas inhaled Individual Values Mean Values Standard n

Subject Control Experiment For Group Deviations Size
1 18 20
Room air 2 9 12 Control: Control: 30
as control 3 26 32
16.93 6.91
4 8 9
5 4 6
6 7 6
7 32 52 Experiment: Experiment:
8 15 16
9 13 13 17.43 9.47
10 15 30
11 9 15
12 21 12
13 19 15
14 24 13
15 12 7
16 32 31
17 29 30
18 16 17
19 15 14
20 19 17
21 14 14
22 18 17
23 15 16
24 16 12
25 18 12
26 17 15
27 15 16
28 22 20
29 10 13
30 20 21
1 5 9 30
Control:
2 7 7 Control:
Nitrous
Oxide 3 8 19 14.00
19.63
4 9 11
 20% 5 10 12
6 9 10
7 21 93
8 75 47 Experiment: Experiment:
9 14 20
27.33 17.57
10 16 14
11 51 66
12 18 20
13 16 41
14 9 37
15 12 17
16 18 22
17 22 26
18 10 23
19 8 12
20 32 36
21 22 30
22 18 22
23 25 30
24 31 35
25 22 27
26 20 27
27 18 26
28 22 28
29 20 26
30 21 27

1 14 20 30
2 22 22
Nitrous Control: Control:
3 4 16
Oxide
40% 4 29 40
14.03 5.37
5 14 40
6 13 120
7 18 63
8 10 20
9 4 4 Experiment: Experiment:
10 12 17 30.77 23.57
11 8 62
12 3 6
13 18 49
14 11 22
15 15 76
16 15 25
17 13 23
18 17 34
19 20 40
20 10 20
21 12 22
22 16 18
23 18 22
24 20 28
25 15 18
26 14 20
27 15 18
28 13 19
29 14 19
30 14 20