Inhalation agents

• 2 common types?

  isoflurane and sevoflurane.
• Advantages of isoflurane (drugs characteristics)

  faster induction than halothane, fast recovery, more potent that sevo.
• Advantaged of isoflurane (physiological)

  Good muscle relaxation, does not sensitise heart arrythmias and transient excitability after painful surgeries.
• Disadvantages of isoflurane- drug?

  Pungent smell, slow than sevo, poorly tolerated for mask induction, irritant to airways.
• Disadvantages of isoflurane- physiological?

  Potent respiratory depression and hypotension can occur due to CVS depression.
• Advantages of sevoflurane- drug?

  Quick recovery and induction, lower blood gas solubility, well tolerated for mask induction, non-airway irritant, pleasant smell.
• Advantages of sevoflurane- physiological?

  liver friendly, no affects to CVS
• Disadvantages- sevoflurane?

  hypotension and respiratory depression, both dose dependent. Less potent than iso.
• what does blood gas solubility mean?

  How soluble the volatile agent is within blood, e.g. less soluble the faster the uptake
• What does MAC mean?

  How strong a volatile agent is. More potent the volatile the less required to keep patient asleep.