NCT05396144

Can Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas) be Used as a Sedative for GI Endoscopy Procedures?

Evaluation of Nitrous Oxide Use in GI Endoscopy Procedures: Potential for Optimizing Sedation and Minimizing Side-Effects During Recovery

• Status: Withdrawn
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 0 (actual)
• Sponsor: Stanford University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Nitrous oxide (commonly known as 'laughing gas') is often used during dental and other outpatient procedures, because it is easy to administer, is short-acting and rapidly clears from the body following the procedure. The investigators hypothesize that use of Nitrous oxide during GI endoscopy may enhance patient comfort during the procedure and speed-up post-procedure recovery, while minimizing the fatigue and mental fogginess some patients report the day after receiving standard sedative and narcotic drugs used routinely for the procedure. The investigators are interested in determining if adding Nitrous Oxide to commonly used sedation drugs will decrease fatigue, mental fogginess, and nausea/vomiting, as well as determine when the patient felt fully recovered from the effects of all sedatives given for the procedure.

Conditions

• Endoscopy
• Colonoscopy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	5% inhaled nitrous oxide	5% Nitrous oxide will be administered by face or nasal mask to be inhaled by the patient
DRUG	50% inhaled nitrous oxide	50% Nitrous oxide will be administered by face or nasal mask to be inhaled by the patient

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-05-01
• Primary completion: 2025-08-31
• Completion: 2025-08-31
• First posted: 2022-05-31
• Last updated: 2026-03-27

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated drug study