Unexplained jaundice following non-halothane anaesthesia. A case report

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Hepatology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Anesthesia-induced liver injury is a known complication.
• Halothane hepatitis is a well-documented form of drug-induced liver injury.
• Nitrous oxide is a widely used inhalation anesthetic agent.

Observation:

• A patient presented with unexplained jaundice after repeated anesthesia.
• The patient received only nitrous oxide as the inhalation anesthetic agent.
• Clinical and laboratory findings were consistent with halothane-induced liver injury.

Findings:

• Nitrous oxide exposure was temporally associated with the onset of jaundice.
• The patient's presentation mimicked halothane hepatitis.
• This suggests nitrous oxide may be implicated in anesthetic-related liver injury.

Implications:

• Clinicians should consider nitrous oxide as a potential cause of jaundice post-anesthesia.
• Further investigation into the hepatotoxicity of nitrous oxide is warranted.
• This finding may impact anesthetic choices in patients with risk factors for liver disease.