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Updated: Sep 29, 2026

Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers
Published on: January 13, 2018
Anions and the anaesthetist
D G Maloney1, I R Appadurai, R S Vaughan
1Department of Anaesthetics, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK. declan_maloney@hotmail.com
Abstract:
Anions are the negative components of most chemical structures and play many important physiological and pharmacological roles that are of interest to the anaesthetist. Their relevance is reviewed with a particular emphasis on the inorganic anions (halides, bicarbonate, phosphate and sulphate) and the significance and limitations of the anion gap. Organic anions (albumin, lactate) are also discussed, albeit briefly. The suitability of anions for their role in neurotransmission and acid-base balance is outlined.
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