[Clinical and experimental study of xenon anesthesia]

Narcotic effect of inert gas xenon (Xe) was discovered more than 50 years ago. The main causes limiting its clinical application are high price, low availability (in nature the gas is present in scarce amounts), and absence of preclinical trials sufficient for norm-setting documents and further solutions allowing clinical trials of Xe. Results of original and basic clinical and experimental studies of xenon anesthesia are presented. The studies were carried out by a group of authors in accordance with the requirements and norm-setting documents of Pharmacological Committee of Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, needed for permitting Xe for medical application as a new narcotic agent.