What Is the “Green Whistle” Inhaler Used by Canada’s Ismaël Koné at the World Cup?
During Canada’s World Cup match against Qatar, midfielder Ismaël Koné was carried off the field on a stretcher while inhaling from a small green device. The moment quickly caught the attention of fans and sparked widespread curiosity about what the device was and how it worked.
Team Canada Confirms Use of Penthrox
Team Canada officials confirmed that the inhaler was Penthrox, also known as methoxyflurane. It is a fast-acting, non-opioid painkiller designed for self-administration and short-term pain relief. The device is commonly referred to as the “green whistle” due to its distinctive appearance and the whistling sound it can produce during use.
How Penthrox Works
One of the defining features of Penthrox is that it is administered directly by the patient. Dr. Paul Winston, a British Columbia-based physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, explained that if a patient is unable to hold the device themselves, the drug cannot be used. This built-in safety mechanism helps prevent overuse.
“The nice thing about Penthrox is that you don’t overdo it,” Winston said. “So at the end, if the person says, ‘Hey, I’m fine,’ they can stop using it, or if the pain isn’t controlled, then they have time to administer the stronger medications they may need to take.”
Relief typically occurs after six to 12 breaths and can last up to an hour. However, the drug requires careful monitoring in a clinical setting to ensure patient safety.
Effects and Comparisons
Winston compared the drug’s effects to those of nitrous oxide. “It’s a little bit like nitrous oxide. So people actually laugh hysterically when they take it and it relieves their pain and it acts like a cross between an anesthetic and a painkiller,” he said. “It doesn’t make you unconscious, but it takes you out of your situation enough that you can push the pain aside.”
History and Global Use
Penthrox was first developed in the United States in the 1960s as a general anesthetic. It was approved by Health Canada in 2022, though it has been in use in Australia and New Zealand since the 1970s. Winston noted that in Australia, the drug is widely used in emergency and field settings. “People Down Under use it all the time when there are beach accidents or trauma in the field,” he said.
However, the drug is no longer approved in the United States. An older version was withdrawn from the American market due to toxicity concerns. Additionally, Penthrox cannot be used in patients with liver or kidney problems, according to Winston.
Koné’s Injury and Recovery
Ismaël Koné suffered a broken leg during the match and has since undergone surgery. He will miss the remainder of the tournament as he recovers from the injury.
