Effect of nitrous oxide and volatile anaesthetics on platelet function in man

Twelve otherwise healthy male volunteers scheduled for arthroscopy of the knee were studied. The influence in vivo of nitrous oxide (N₂O) per se and the addition of a halogenated volatile anaesthetic (halothane or isoflurane) on ADP–induced platelet aggregation and release of beta–thromboglobulin into plasma was evaluated. All measurements were made before surgery. We found that N₂O increased platelet aggregation. Adding a halogenated anaesthetic reversed the relative hyperaggregation induced by N_aO. The concentrations in plasma of the platelet release product beta thromboglobulin were not influenced by the anaesthetics.