ideal properties
Last reviewed 01/2018
There is no single agent with optimal characteristics required for inhalational anaesthesia, these being:
- low blood/gas solubility - allows rapid onset and recovery
- high potency - allows use with high oxygen concentrations
- minimal depression of other tissue, e.g. cardiorespiratory, hepatic, renal
- non-irritant
- metabolism and excretion: excreted unaltered, no toxic products and does not react with other drugs used in balanced anaesthesia
- chemically stable
- non-flammable, non-explosive, environmentally-friendly
- cheap