Nitrous-narcotic-relaxant anesthesia vs. volatile anesthesia in the adult surgical outpatient.

A review of the advantages and disadvantages of nitrous-narcotic-relaxant vs. inhaled volatile anesthesia for outpatients results in the following conclusion: For most anesthesiologists in most settings, inhaled volatile anesthesia (with or without supplemental neuromuscular blocking agents) is probably superior to nitrous-narcotic-relaxant anesthesia (Table 1). Every anesthesiologist administering anesthesia to adult surgical patients on an outpatient basis must evaluate the surgical procedure being performed and his own anesthetic skill in deciding which of these techniques is best suited to any particular patient. It is only by constant attention to all factors that we can continue to provide the finest in anesthetic care for adult outpatients.