An anesthetic technique for cardiac surgery which utilizes 100% oxygen as the only inhalant

The purpose of this paper is to present an anesthetic technique for cardiac surgery in which no inhalation agent is used other than 100% oxygen. It should be pointed out that the evolution of the method entailed no predetermined ideas about producing an analgesic state in the absence of an anesthetic inhalant this property, but, rather, was the outcome of clinical observations on various patients during cardiac surgery dating back to the latter part of 1952. 1 It is believed that this technique accomplishes an analgesic state similar to that which has been attributed to ether and oxygen, but avoids the necessity of giving ether. 2 The Preoperative Visit The anesthesiologist's visit to the patient the evening before surgery is an important part of the procedure, since at that time he must always do a thorough chest examination whether or not the patient has had such an examination prior to