What gas is commonly measured for monitoring anesthesia levels in patients?

The commonly monitored gas for assessing anesthesia levels in patients is nitrous oxide. This is primarily due to its significant role as an inhalational anesthetic agent. Nitrous oxide is used to provide sedation and analgesia during procedures, and its concentration in the patient's body must be carefully monitored to ensure effectiveness while minimizing potential side effects or complications. Monitoring the levels of nitrous oxide allows anesthesiologists to adjust dosages appropriately, ensuring patient safety and comfort throughout the surgical procedure.

In clinical practice, the measurement of nitrous oxide can help in determining how deeply anesthetized a patient is, as well as allowing for titration of the agent to achieve the desired level of anesthesia without oversedation.