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Concept
Inhalational anesthetic
Summary
An inhalational anesthetic is a chemical compound possessing general anesthetic properties that can be delivered via inhalation. They are administered through a face mask, laryngeal mask airway or tracheal tube connected to an anesthetic vaporiser and an anesthetic delivery system. Agents of significant contemporary clinical interest include volatile anesthetic agents such as isoflurane, sevoflurane and desflurane, as well as certain anesthetic gases such as nitrous oxide and xenon.
Desflurane
Isoflurane
Nitrous oxide
Sevoflurane
Xenon
Although some of these are still used in clinical practice and in research, the following anaesthetic agents are primarily of historical interest in developed countries:
Acetylene
Chloroethane (ethyl chloride)
Chloroform
Cryofluorane
Cyclopropane
Diethyl ether
Divinyl ether
Enflurane
Ethylene
Fluroxene
Halothane (still widely used in the developing world and is on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines)
Methoxyflurane (still used currently as an analgesic)
Methoxypropane
Trichloroethylene
Vinyl chloride
Aliflurane
Halopropane
Norflurane
Roflurane
Synthane
Teflurane
Volatile anaesthetic agents share the property of being liquid at room temperature, but evaporating easily for administration by inhalation. The volatile anesthetics used in the developed world today include: Desflurane, isoflurane and sevoflurane. Other agents widely used in the past include ether, chloroform, enflurane, halothane, methoxyflurane. All of these agents share the property of being quite hydrophobic (i.e., as liquids, they are not freely miscible with water, and as gases they dissolve in oils better than in water).
The ideal volatile anaesthetic agent offers smooth and reliable induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia with minimal effects on other organ systems. In addition it is odorless or pleasant to inhale; safe for all ages and in pregnancy; not metabolised; rapid in onset and offset; potent; and safe for exposure to operating room staff.
Official source
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