- Desflurane is a fluorinated methyl ethyl ether (MW = 168)
- Its an irritant gas, so cannot be used for induction
- MAC is 6.6% ( for an infant the MAC raises to 9.4%)
- Boiling point is low at 22.8 degrees compared to other agents
- SVP at 20 degrees is very high at 89.2 compared to other agents
- Extremely volatile; so needs an electronic Tec 6 vaporizer
- Has a low OGPC of 29 = potency is low
- Has a high BGPC of 0.42 = rapid onset and offset
- Only 0.02% of desflurane will get metabolised (to trifluoroacetic acid)
- Its effect on the CVS is modest: reduce SVR only above 2.2 MAC and effect on contractility is less than other agents. It increases HR like isoflurane
- Like other agents it reduces TV and increases RR
- Like other agents, it has the potential to increase cerebral blood flow above 1 MAC
- With dry sodalime, it has the potential to react and produce carbon monoxide
The Lay Medical Man 