Inhaled Anesthetics (Exam 3) UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
*Halothane*:
Flammable or non-flammable liquid at room temperature?
Is it acceptable for inhalation induction? - CORRECT ANSWER - Non-flammable
Yes - sweet, non-pungent
Which of the inhalation anesthetics is significantly metabolized (about 20%) and is associated
with an acquired hepatitis? - CORRECT ANSWER - Halothane
Which of the inhalation anesthetics is susceptible to decomposition, requires a preservative, and
requires packaging in an amber bottle?
What is the name of the preservative? - CORRECT ANSWER - Halothane
Thymol
*Halothane* - properties:
Potency?
Blood solubility? - CORRECT ANSWER - MAC is 0.75% (high potency)
,Higher blood solubility than the other volatile agents - blood:gas partition coefficient is 2.50
*Isoflurane*:
Flammable or non-flammable liquid at room temperature?
Is it acceptable for inhalation induction? - CORRECT ANSWER - Non-flammable
Not really - pungent odor
*Isoflurane*:
Extremely ?
Can be stored for ? years
Is there deterioration with sunlight?
Is there deterioration with CO2 absorbents? - CORRECT ANSWER - Stable
5
No
No
*Isoflurane* - properties:
,Potency?
Blood solubility? - CORRECT ANSWER - Most potent of the currently available volatile
agents (MAC = 1.17)
Intermediate blood solubility (blood:gas partition coefficent 1.46)
*Desflurane*
Very similar structure to ?, but markedly different properties - CORRECT ANSWER -
Isoflurane
Which of the volatile agents is the most pungent?
What may it result in?
Since this agent is the most pungent, it is best not to use it for what? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Desflurane
Coughing, breath holding, salivation, laryngospasm
Inhalation induction
*Desflurane*
Is it appropriate for an inhalation induction?
Metabolism? Incidence of hepatitis? - CORRECT ANSWER - No - most pungent of all
volatiles
, Zero metabolism to trifluoroacetate (rare incidence of immune mediated hepatitis)
*Desflurane*
What happens to desflurane in a dry CO2 absorber? - CORRECT ANSWER - Degrades to
carbon monoxide
Which anesthetic has the lowest potency of the volatile agents? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Desflurane (MAC = 6.6)
*Desflurane*
Potency?
Blood solubility?
Tissue solubilities? - CORRECT ANSWER - Lowest potency of volatile agents (MAC = 6.6)
Lowest blood solubility of the volatile agents (Blood:gas partition coefficient 0.42)
Low
Which volatile agent requires a special vaporizer?
Why? - CORRECT ANSWER - Desflurane
Higher vapor pressure and lower boiling point than other volatiles
ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
*Halothane*:
Flammable or non-flammable liquid at room temperature?
Is it acceptable for inhalation induction? - CORRECT ANSWER - Non-flammable
Yes - sweet, non-pungent
Which of the inhalation anesthetics is significantly metabolized (about 20%) and is associated
with an acquired hepatitis? - CORRECT ANSWER - Halothane
Which of the inhalation anesthetics is susceptible to decomposition, requires a preservative, and
requires packaging in an amber bottle?
What is the name of the preservative? - CORRECT ANSWER - Halothane
Thymol
*Halothane* - properties:
Potency?
Blood solubility? - CORRECT ANSWER - MAC is 0.75% (high potency)
,Higher blood solubility than the other volatile agents - blood:gas partition coefficient is 2.50
*Isoflurane*:
Flammable or non-flammable liquid at room temperature?
Is it acceptable for inhalation induction? - CORRECT ANSWER - Non-flammable
Not really - pungent odor
*Isoflurane*:
Extremely ?
Can be stored for ? years
Is there deterioration with sunlight?
Is there deterioration with CO2 absorbents? - CORRECT ANSWER - Stable
5
No
No
*Isoflurane* - properties:
,Potency?
Blood solubility? - CORRECT ANSWER - Most potent of the currently available volatile
agents (MAC = 1.17)
Intermediate blood solubility (blood:gas partition coefficent 1.46)
*Desflurane*
Very similar structure to ?, but markedly different properties - CORRECT ANSWER -
Isoflurane
Which of the volatile agents is the most pungent?
What may it result in?
Since this agent is the most pungent, it is best not to use it for what? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Desflurane
Coughing, breath holding, salivation, laryngospasm
Inhalation induction
*Desflurane*
Is it appropriate for an inhalation induction?
Metabolism? Incidence of hepatitis? - CORRECT ANSWER - No - most pungent of all
volatiles
, Zero metabolism to trifluoroacetate (rare incidence of immune mediated hepatitis)
*Desflurane*
What happens to desflurane in a dry CO2 absorber? - CORRECT ANSWER - Degrades to
carbon monoxide
Which anesthetic has the lowest potency of the volatile agents? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Desflurane (MAC = 6.6)
*Desflurane*
Potency?
Blood solubility?
Tissue solubilities? - CORRECT ANSWER - Lowest potency of volatile agents (MAC = 6.6)
Lowest blood solubility of the volatile agents (Blood:gas partition coefficient 0.42)
Low
Which volatile agent requires a special vaporizer?
Why? - CORRECT ANSWER - Desflurane
Higher vapor pressure and lower boiling point than other volatiles
