inhalational

Last reviewed 01/2018

Inhalational general anaesthetics are usually used to decrease awareness and maintain the anaesthetic state. They may also be used for induction. There is no one agent with optimal properties.

Agents are either gases or volatile liquids. The latter must be given via calibrated vaporisers with a carrier gas, e.g. air, oxygen or nitrous oxide and oxygen. Oxygen must always be a constituent of the inhalational flow.