Potential for intravenous sedation by dissolution of the inhaled anesthetic Xenon.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K23090
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0907:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Health Sciences University of Hokkaido
• Principal Investigator: IWAMOTO Rie 北海道医療大学, 歯学部, 助教 (60779875)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: キセノンガス / 静脈内鎮静法 / 吸入麻酔薬

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that intravenous administration of xenon (Xe) can produce anesthetic sedation, and to realize the clinical application of intravenous sedation (IVS), which has the advantages of rapid anesthetic action, cardiac function, and less respiratory depression, which are the characteristics of Xe.
The first step was the preparation of Xe dissolver solution, using fat emulsion as the Xe solvent because of Xe's high liposolubility. In order to increase the solubility of the gas, the fat emulsion and Xe were added to a pressurizable and coolable glass vessel and pressurized. At the same time, the container itself was cooled and shaken to produce a more concentrated Xe solution. The Xe solution was then administered intravenously to mice, and it was found to produce an anesthetic sedative effect.

Free Research Field

歯科麻酔学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで理想の吸入麻酔薬とされていたものの高価であることから臨床普及が進んでいなかったXeを吸入麻酔薬としてではなく、静脈麻酔薬として用いることでIVSへの応用の可能性を見い出すことである。これまでの研究により、溶媒として脂肪乳剤を用い、気体の溶解度を大きくするために加圧・冷却を行うことで、より高濃度のXe溶解液を作製し、実際にマウスへ静脈内投与することで麻酔鎮静効果が得られることを確認した。
Xe溶解液によるIVSが心機能および呼吸抑制が少なく、麻酔深度の調節性が優れていることが明らかになれば、Xeの画期的なIVSへの応用が可能となり、麻酔の概念を大転換させるパラダイムシフトが期待できる。