• J Leclerc, R Nieuviarts, B Tavernier, B Vallet, and P Scherpereel.
• Département d'anesthésie-réanimation chirurgicale 2, CHRU, hôpital Claude Huriez, rue Michel Polonovski, 59037 Lille, France. j-leclerc@chru-lille.fr
• Ann Fr Anesth Reanim. 2001 Jan 1; 20 (1): 70-6.

ObjectiveTo analyze the current knowledge concerning xenon anaesthesia.Data SourcesReferences were obtained from computerized bibliographic research (Medline), recent review articles, the library of the service and personal files.Study SelectionAll categories of articles on this topic have been selected.Data ExtractionArticles have been analysed for history, biophysics, pharmacology, toxicity and environmental effects and using prospect.Data SynthesisThe noble gas xenon has anaesthetic properties that have been recognized 50 years ago. Xenon is receiving renewed interest because it has many characteristics of an ideal anaesthetic. In addition to its lack of effects on cardiovascular system, xenon has a low solubility enabling faster induction of and emergence from anaesthesia than with other inhalational agents. Nevertheless, at present, the cost and arety of xenon limit its widespread use in clinical practice. The developement of closed rebreathing system that allowed recycling of xenon and therefore reducing its waste has led to a recent interest in this gas. Reducing its cost will help xenon to find its place among anaesthetic agents. An European multicentric clinical trial under submission will contribute to the discussion of the opportunity for xenon introduction in anaesthesia.

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