During induction, which gas is commonly used for rapid onset of anesthesia?

Nitrous oxide is commonly used for its rapid onset of anesthesia, making it a favored choice during the induction phase in anesthetic practices. It is an inhalational agent with a low solubility in blood and a relatively fast diffusion rate, which allows it to quickly achieve effective concentrations in the central nervous system. This characteristic is especially beneficial for producing rapid sedative and analgesic effects, facilitating smooth induction in patients.

Inhalational agents, particularly nitrous oxide, provide the advantage of being quickly eliminated from the body, which aids in the recovery process post-anesthesia. This makes nitrous oxide valuable in various surgical settings where rapid onset and offset of anesthesia are desired.

Other gases like helium, oxygen, and carbon dioxide do not serve as anesthetic agents. Helium is used primarily for issues related to respiratory obstruction but cannot induce anesthesia. Oxygen is essential for maintaining life but does not induce anesthesia on its own. Carbon dioxide is used primarily for insufflation during certain surgical procedures and does not have anesthetic properties.