NITROUS OXIDE AND CARDIAC ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY

Reversible atrioventricular dissociation has been reported in humans anesthetized with nitrous oxide and volatile or opioid-based anesthetics. ^[496] Addition of nitrous oxide to halothane anesthesia lowers the threshold at which arrhythmias occur.^[497] This observation may result from a combination of sympathetic nervous system stimulation by nitrous oxide and myocardial sensitization by halothane.^[498] The incidence of arrhythmias is reduced during combined nitrous oxide-opioid anesthesia compared with halothane anesthesia alone.^[499]