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Isoflurane




Isoflurane (1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl
difluoromethyl ether) is a Halogenated Ether used for inhalation Anesthesia . Together with Enflurane and Halothane it replaced the flammable Ethers used in the pioneer days of Surgery . Its use in human medicine is now starting to decline, being replaced with Sevoflurane , Desflurane and the intravenous anaesthetic Propofol . Isoflurane is still frequently used for veterinary anaesthesia.

Isoflurane is always administered in conjunction with Air and/or pure Oxygen . Often Nitrous Oxide is also used. Although its physical properties means that anaesthesia can be induced more rapidly than with Halothane , its pungency can irritate the respiratory system, negating this theoretical advantages conferred by its physical properties. It is usually used to maintain a state of general anesthesia that has been induced with another drug, such as Thiopentone or Propofol .

A major advantage of isoflurane is that it is no longer Patented , and hence very economical to use.

It vaporizes readily, but is a liquid at room temperature. It is completely non-flammable.


Physical properties