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Robert F. Schilling, MD

JAMA. 1986;255(12):1605-1606.

Abstract
Two women developed significant neurologic dysfunction, consistent with subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord, within eight weeks of being anesthetized with nitrous oxide. Investigation revealed that each had preclinical or masked vitamin B₁₂ deficiency. The first patient had two previous ileal resections for Crohn's disease and the other had pernicious anemia. It is postulated that nitrous oxide anesthesia may precipitate neurologic disease in people with unrecognized deficiency of vitamin B₁₂.

(JAMA 1986;255:1605-1606)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792 (Dr Schilling).

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