Probably missing something fundamental here but...
It is said ubiquitously in almost every anesthesia text that N2O is 34 times more soluble than nitrogen in blood. This fact is used to explain why giving N2O to a person with an air filled space - PTX, intestinal obstruction, air embolism, intraocular air bubbles, etc - is bad. Fine. But, aren't most other volatiles (Des, Sevo, Iso) also more soluble than N2O (and consequently N2) in blood? These volatiles don't appreciably expand closed spaces. What am I missing?
It is said ubiquitously in almost every anesthesia text that N2O is 34 times more soluble than nitrogen in blood. This fact is used to explain why giving N2O to a person with an air filled space - PTX, intestinal obstruction, air embolism, intraocular air bubbles, etc - is bad. Fine. But, aren't most other volatiles (Des, Sevo, Iso) also more soluble than N2O (and consequently N2) in blood? These volatiles don't appreciably expand closed spaces. What am I missing?
