Xenon: elemental anaesthesia in clinical practice.

The 'noble' gases have been known to have anaesthetic properties for 50 years yet only recently has their application become a clinical reality. In this review we describe the preclinical and clinical studies that have led to a resurgence of interest in the use of the element xenon as an anaesthetic. Furthermore, we highlight specific areas where xenon demonstrates advantages over other anaesthetics, including safety, beneficial pharmacokinetics, cardiovascular stability, analgesia and neuroprotection.