Inhaled
Desflurane
Airway irritant - causes cough, apnoea, laryngospasm
- Mechanism of Action
- Not clearly defined. Alters the configuration of cell membrane ion channels, reducing the rate of firing of action potentials and resulting in CNS depression.
Clinical Use
- Indication
- Induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia.
- Contraindications
- Past unexplained jaundice or malignant hyperthermia following halothane administration
- Raised intracranial pressure
- Adverse Effects
- Hypotension
- Bradycardia (halothane / sevoflurane)
- Tachycardia (desflurane / isoflurane)
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Reduced tidal volume with increased respiratory rate
- Reduced renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate
- Hepatotoxicity
- Malignant hyperthermia
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