Role of Carbon Dioxide in Inert Gas Narcosis.
Abstract
The role of carbon dioxide and oxygen in high pressure narcosis was studied by exposing animals to hyperbaric conditions while maintaining them normoxic and normocapnic. Chickens were the experimental animals. Heated, humidified gas entered the lung via a tracheal cannula and exited from the posterior air sacs via cannulae through the body wall. Narcosis was estimated from changes in the visually evoked response (VER). The VER was recorded from the optic tectum by means of implanted bipolar fine wire electrodes. The VER was initiated by an external strobe light. A depression of the amplitude of the VER is considered to reflect narcosis. All animals showed a strong depression in VER amplitude on exposure to normoxic, normocapnic gas at 6 ATA when the inert component was nitrogen; the onset of the depression was a smooth function of depth. No depression of VER was seen when the inert diluent was helium.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA039262
Entities
People
- Harold S. Weiss
Organizations
- Ohio State University