DESFLURANE CANS RECYCLING

Posted on June 6, 2025 by Dr Unnikrishnan Prathapadas

VIVA SCENE: DESFLURANE

Posted on September 8, 2019 by Dr Unnikrishnan Prathapadas

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