Tag Archives: desflurane

VIVA SCENE: DESFLURANE

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  • 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