How long should a patient be flushed with oxygen after nitrous oxide administration?

After the administration of nitrous oxide, it is essential to flush the patient with oxygen to help eliminate the nitrous oxide from their system and reduce any potential side effects. The correct duration for flushing with oxygen is 5 minutes. This time frame ensures that a sufficient amount of nitrous oxide is cleared from the patient’s body, minimizing the risk of headache or nausea that can occur if nitrous oxide lingers in the system.

Flushing the patient with 100% oxygen helps to increase the rate at which nitrous oxide is expelled from the bloodstream and tissues. While other durations may seem reasonable, they do not provide the optimal balance between effective nitrous oxide elimination and patient safety. A shorter duration might not fully clear the nitrous oxide, while a longer duration, such as 10, 15, or even more minutes, may be unnecessarily excessive, prolonging recovery without added benefit. Thus, 5 minutes is the established standard for a safe and effective oxygen flush following nitrous oxide administration.