Medical professionals want to make sure that their patients feel comfortable and confident during procedures. With modern medicine, there are a host of pain relief medications and analgesics that can help patients with painful procedures, including the well-known nitrous oxide (N2O), aka laughing gas. But even laughing gas can require extra staff and longer downtime for the patient. However, a newer mixture called self-administered N2O uses a 50/50 combination of inhaled oxygen and nitrous oxide to provide fast-acting pain relief. And while it is not a replacement for anesthesia, it does complement and enhances the effects of local anesthetics, while providing the ultimate comfort to patients.
Why Nitrous Oxide?
In many medical cases, a patient will be given some sort of relaxant to help them feel at ease. However, drugs like Valium can take hours to leave the body. But with self-administered N2O, patients are able to receive effective pain relief with minimal downtime. With effects that wear off in five to 10 minutes, nitrous oxide is the perfect solution for in-office surgeries, laser treatments or any procedure that patients may find painful. It can even eliminate the need for painful injection numbing!
With self-administered N2O, patients have the ability to respond to pain or discomfort on their own terms. Fast-acting and non-addictive, this version of nitrous oxide provides superior patient comfort during procedures with minimal disruption. Even the possible side effects are light: Some may experience dizziness, nausea, light-headedness, and unsteadiness. But on the whole, self-administered N2O can be the right choice for patients:
- Who are drug adverse
- Who want to manage their pain and anxiety
- Who want less downtime after a procedure
How Does It Work?
Don’t confuse this with laughing gas — this particular mixture is 50% oxygen and 50% nitrous oxide compared to up to 70% N2O for laughing gas. Plus with laughing gas, patients have little to no control over the dosage and amount administered. With a 50/50 blend, self-administered N2O is given by the patient to the patient through a valve inhalation system. During procedures, patients hold on to the mouthpiece and hose to breathe the nitrous oxide in. They are always in control of the amount of nitrous oxide received during the procedure. Systems like ProNox are a great way to provide this type of nitrous oxide to your patients.
Benefits
While any analgesic comes with benefits, this one, in particular, is super beneficial to patients. From its customizable nature to being super safe, self-administered N2O can help patients in the following ways:
1. Self-administered and customizable
With this particular pain relief, the patient is always in control. They can effectively control how much or how little relief they need by holding and moving the handheld breathing tube to adjust the amount of relief needed.
2. Safe
Offering a safe mixture of 50% oxygen (O2) and 50% N2O, this effective analgesic provides quick pain relief. Within five to 10 minutes, there is no trace of the chemical in the body, letting patients safely return to their everyday activities.
3. Established
The 50/50 mix of self-administered N2O has been safely and effectively used around the world for decades. Well established and popular everywhere from dentist offices to birthing centers and beyond, patients can be sure they are getting one of the best ways to manage their pain.
Whether you’re looking to help patients feel more comfortable or provide a faster pain relief option, self-administered nitrous oxide might be the way to go. This favorite of dental, medical, and veterinary providers is here to do everything from helping dental patients relax to helping furry veterinary patients calm down. If you’re interested in adding self-administered nitrous oxide to your medical practice, contact CalOx. We provide medical-grade nitrous oxide for dental practices, veterinary practices, medical and dermatology clinics, and more throughout Southern California. We also supply tanks, piping, and delivery equipment, along with any service, maintenance, and training that you or your staff might need. Call us today for a free consultation!
Sources:
https://www.azulbeauty.com/blog/3-reasons-pronox-is-the-safe-and-effective-choice-for-your-next-procedure/
https://www.fvpsurgery.com/patient-resources/pro-nox/