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A Short Note On Penthrox And Its Effects On The Early Zealand And Australia Essay

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INTRODUCTION Methoxyflurane or Penthrox is used currently as an inhalational form of analgesia for mild to moderate pain relief for a short time period. It was previously used as an inhalational anaesthetic gas but has since been discontinued. Methoxyflurane is currently being used in the pre-hospital and hospital settings by Australia, New Zealand and more recently the UK. It is commonly called “The green whistle” in New Zealand and Australia. Methoxyflurane was administered through a device called the Abbott Analgizer which allowed patients to self administer the Methoxyflurane and was then transformed into a metered dose inhaler called Penthrox inhaler. I am going to be reviewing Methoxyflurane and its history, toxicity as a result of the use of methoxyflurane, pharmacological action, advantages and disadvantages of use in the pre-hospital environment as well as the indications, contra-indications and adverse effects. At the end of this review I will be writing a conclusion from all the information I have received and reviewed. HISTORY Methoxyflurane was previously known as Penthrane, a halogenated ether when it was produced by Abbott laboratories. It was discovered in the late 1940’s by William T. Miller who was a professor of organic chemistry at the Cornell University in New York and was involved in the Manhattan Project. The Manhattan project was a research project that produced nuclear bombs in World War 2. In 1960 Methoxyflurane was introduced as Penthrane, a

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