Assessing the Effectiveness of Nitrous Oxide as an Adjunct to General Anesthesia in Reducing Postoperative Pain and Recovery Time: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N2O) has long been used as an anesthetic agent, but its role as an adjunct in general anesthesia for improving postoperative outcomes remains underexplored. This randomized controlled trial evaluates the effectiveness of adding nitrous oxide to standard general anesthesia in reducing postoperative pain, opioid consumption, and recovery time. We enrolled 150 patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery, randomly assigning them to receive either nitrous oxide as an adjunct to general anesthesia or standard anesthesia with oxygen and volatile anesthetics. We assessed postoperative pain using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), opioid consumption within the first 24 hours, and recovery time, including time to extubation and length of hospital stay. Our findings indicate that patients in the nitrous oxide group had significantly lower pain scores, required fewer opioids postoperatively, and had faster extubation times. Additionally, there was a trend toward shorter hospital stays in the nitrous oxide group. These results suggest that nitrous oxide can be a valuable adjunct in general anesthesia, enhancing postoperative pain management and accelerating recovery.