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Updated: Jun 16, 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
A practical rule for optimal flows for xenon anaesthesia in a semi-closed anaesthesia circuit
Anna B Roehl1, Andreas Goetzenich, Rolf Rossaint
1Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital of Aachen, Aachen, Germany. aroehl@ukaachen.de
Background And Objective:
Stable haemodynamics and its cardioprotective and neuroprotective properties favour xenon as an ideal but expensive anaesthetic agent. The aim of this study was to optimize a semi-closed anaesthesia circuit for xenon anaesthesia with respect to economics and patient safety.
Methods:
A semi-closed nonrebreathing circuit was compared with a closed anaesthesia circuit. In 12 landrace pigs, we compared eight different wash-in procedures affecting xenon consumption. Additionally, the maintenance of anaesthesia was analysed with regard to minimizing xenon consumption.
Results:
The current study showed that, by optimization of the electronic regulation of the wash-in procedure for xenon anaesthesia, the consumption of the valuable gas can be reduced by up to 75% in a semi-closed circuit. The additional maintenance of anaesthesia under low flow conditions by coupling the xenon flow to the oxygen consumption is the most effective way to technically reduce the amount of xenon needed for anaesthesia.
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Noble Gases
The elements in group 18 are noble gases (helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon). They earned the name “noble” because they were assumed to be nonreactive since they have filled valence shells. In 1962, Dr. Neil Bartlett at the University of British Columbia proved this assumption to be false.

