Anesthesia is the most humane of all of man's accomplishments, and what a merciful accomplishment it was...(Joseph Lewis)

By medicine life may be prolonged, yet death Will seize the doctor too (William Shakespeare)

By medicine life may be prolonged, yet death Will seize the doctor too (William Shakespeare)
By medicine life may be prolonged, yet death Will seize the doctor too - William Shakespeare

Thursday, July 17, 2014

The ideal anesthetic agent

Physical properties

        1. Non-flammable, non-explosive at room temperature

2. Stable in light.

3. Liquid and
vaporisable at room temperature (low latent heat of vaporization)

4. Stable at room temperature, with a long shelf life

5. Stable with soda lime, as well as plastics and metals

6. Environmentally friendly -
no ozone depletion

7. Cheap and easy to manufacture 

  Biological properties
         1. Pleasant to inhale (non-irritant)

2. Low
blood:gas solubility - i.e. fast onset

3. High
oil:water solubility - i.e. high potency

4. Minimal effects on other systems - e.g. cardiovascular, respiratory, hepatic, renal or endocrine

5.
No biotransformation - should be excreted ideally via the lungs, unchanged

6. Non-toxic to operating theatre personnel

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