What does nitrous oxide primarily serve as during medical procedures?

Nitrous oxide primarily serves as an anesthetic complement during medical procedures. This means that it is often used in conjunction with other anesthetic agents to enhance their effects and improve patient comfort. Nitrous oxide provides effective analgesia and sedation, which can help alleviate anxiety and pain during procedures.

It works quickly and has a relatively fast onset and offset, allowing for greater flexibility in managing patient care in various clinical settings. By combining nitrous oxide with other anesthetics, healthcare providers can achieve a suitable level of sedation and analgesia while minimizing the doses of stronger anesthetic agents needed, which can reduce the risk of side effects and complications.