Chang Gung medical journal
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We experienced a case of accidental administration of 100% carbon dioxide (CO2) during anesthesia, which resulted in cardiac arrest. After successful cardio-pulmonary resuscitation the child recovered without brain damage. This outcome was quite different than that of the more commonly reported accidental administration of 100% nituous oxide (N2O), as the latter usually results in death from cerebral damage rather than cardiac arrest. We speculated that the cause of death and/or cardiac arrest may differ between these two anoxic gases. ⋯ One hundred percent CO2-induced cardiac arrest occurred in 119 seconds and was not oxygen-dependent, whereas 100% N2O induced cardiac arrest occurred in 390 seconds and was clearly dependent on hypoxemia.