Irrigating fluid

Abstract

A surgical irrigating fluid composition, especially for endoscopic surgery, is provided comprising a rinsing fluid and nitrous oxide added as a marker to the rinsing fluid in an amount which is detectable in the expired breath from a mammal, especially man, that is subjected to the surgery.

1 . Surgical irrigating fluid composition comprising a rinsing fluid and a fluid absorption marker, wherein said marker comprises nitrous oxide and is present in an amount which is detectable via a mammal, including human, body which is the subject of said surgery.  
   
   
       2 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said amount of nitrous oxide is detectable via the expired breath from the mammal in question.  
   
   
       3 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said rinsing fluid comprises sterile water and nitrous oxide as a marker.  
   
   
       4 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said rinsing fluid comprises a solute for inhibiting hemolysis.  
   
   
       5 . A composition according to  claim 4 , wherein said solute is selected from the group consisting of glycine, mannitol and sorbitol and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       6 . A composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the amount of said solute is within the range of 0.1-5.0% by weight based on the weight of said rinsing fluid.  
   
   
       7 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of nitrous oxide in said irrigating fluid composition is within the range of 0.1-3.0% by weight, based on the weight of said rinsing fluid.  
   
   
       8 . A composition as defined in  claim 1  for use as an irrigating fluid for surgery in a mammal, including man.  
   
   
       9 . A composition as defined in  claim 1  for use as a monitoring fluid in a diagnostic method for the determination of the amount of irrigating fluid which is absorbed during surgery in a mammal, including man.  
   
   
       10 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said surgery is endoscopic surgery.  
   
   
       11 . A composition according to  claim 10 , wherein said endoscopic surgery is endoscopic surgery in the genitourinary tract.  
   
   
       12 . A composition according to  claim 11 , wherein said endoscopic surgery in the genitourinary tract is transurethral resection or transcervical resection of the endometrium.  
   
   
       13 - 18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . A composition according to  claim 2 , wherein said rinsing fluid comprises sterile water and nitrous oxide as a marker.  
   
   
       20 . A composition according to  claim 2 , wherein said rinsing fluid comprises a solute for inhibiting hemolysis.  
   
   
       21 . A composition according to  claim 3 , wherein said rinsing fluid comprises a solute for inhibiting hemolysis.  
   
   
       22 . A composition according to  claim 19 , wherein said rinsing fluid comprises a solute for inhibiting hemolysis.  
   
   
       23 . A composition according to  claim 5 , wherein the amount of said solute is within the range of 0.1-5.0% by weight based on the weight of said rinsing fluid.  
   
   
       24 . A composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the amount of said solute is within the range of 0.5-2.5% by weight based on the weight of said rinsing fluid.  
   
   
       25 . A composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the amount of solute is within the range of 1.0-2.0% by weight based on the weight of said rinsing fluid.  
   
   
       26 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of nitrous oxide in said irrigating fluid composition is within the range of 0.5-2.0% by weight based on the weight of said rinsing fluid.  
   
   
       27 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of nitrous oxide in said irrigating fluid composition is within the range of 0.7-1.5% by weight of said rinsing fluid.