Inhalational anesthetic

An inhalational anesthetic is a volatile liquid or gas administered through the lungs to produce general anesthesia. Its concentration in the brain can be adjusted by changing inspired concentration and ventilation.

Minimum alveolar concentration: The alveolar concentration of an inhaled anesthetic that prevents movement in response to surgical incision in half of patients. It provides a standard measure of anesthetic potency across inhaled agents.
Sevoflurane: A volatile fluorinated ether used to induce and maintain general anesthesia. Its relatively nonirritating odor makes it useful for inhalational induction.
General anesthesia: A drug-induced state of unconsciousness, immobility, and reduced response to stimulation during medical procedures. Inhalational anesthetics are one route to producing this broader clinical state.
Intravenous anesthetic: A drug administered into a vein to induce or maintain general anesthesia. It reaches the circulation directly rather than entering through the lungs.
Blood–gas partition coefficient: The ratio of an anesthetic's concentration in blood to its concentration in gas at equilibrium. It predicts how quickly an agent's alveolar and brain concentrations change.
Desflurane: A volatile fluorinated ether used to maintain general anesthesia, with low blood solubility. Its rapid concentration changes can support prompt adjustments and emergence.
Alveolar gas equation: An equation estimating alveolar oxygen partial pressure from inspired gases, carbon dioxide, and respiratory exchange. It describes the gas-exchange framework in which inhaled anesthetic uptake occurs.
Local anesthetic: A drug that reversibly blocks nerve conduction in a limited region without necessarily causing unconsciousness. Its localized nerve blockade differs from inhaled drugs' production of general anesthesia.
Oil–gas partition coefficient: The equilibrium ratio of an anesthetic's concentration in oil to its concentration in gas. Its relationship to minimum alveolar concentration helps explain anesthetic potency.
Isoflurane: A volatile halogenated ether used to maintain general anesthesia. It is a widely used maintenance agent with slower emergence than less soluble agents.

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