To      : Jan B.
Re      : Anesthetic Gases

        Anesthetic gases per say probably transfer into human milk to a
slight to significant degree,  particularly due to their lipid solubility.
However, just as from the patient,  the anesthetic gas once stopped is
rapidly redistributed from adipose and other tissues(CNS)   and eliminated
via the lung.  Hence,  as soon as the patient awakens,  the CNS levels and
many other tissue levels are exceeding low.  I would also assume that any
anesthetic gas distributed to the milk,  would probably redistribute from
the milk compartment to the plasma, to the lung,  and out via exhalation.

        Another interesting question is,  if it were ingested by the
infant,  would the infant absorb enough to produce a pharmacologic effect.
I've actually looked up the oral bioavailability of these agents,  and
there is nothing published.  I seriously doubt that a slow oral absorption
followed by rapid excretion via the pulmonary circuit would produce any
physiologic effect on a nursing infant.  For the most part,  most
anesthetic gases are not metabolized, but are relatively inert.

        So put simply,  your husband is correct,  if mom is awake,  it is
unlikely the infant will be affected. Please Note:  This only pertains to
the gaseous anesthetics,  not all the other IV stuff(barbiturates, opiates)
they use.

Tom Hale

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