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Why administer volatile anesthetics with nitrous oxide

To enhance cardiovascular stability
To reduce cerebral blood flow
To improve muscle relaxation
To prolong recovery time

User PhillyNJ
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Combining volatile anesthetics with nitrous oxide enhances cardiovascular stability and improves muscle relaxation without specifically aiming to reduce cerebral blood flow or prolong recovery time, providing a balanced anesthesia technique.

Step-by-step explanation:

Administering volatile anesthetics alongside nitrous oxide is a common practice in modern anesthesiology to achieve general anesthesia. These agents are frequently combined due to their synergistic effects, which can enhance the overall anesthetic outcome and safety of the procedure. Nitrous oxide, when used with volatile anesthetics such as desflurane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane, helps to minimize the dose of the volatile agent required, which can lead to better cardiovascular stability and improved muscle relaxation during surgery. It does not specifically reduce cerebral blood flow or prolong recovery time; instead, it allows for a balanced anesthesia technique that may lead to smoother induction and maintenance of anesthesia with potentially fewer side effects and complications.

User Esbenr
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