Desflurane Can Allow Patients to Recover from Anesthesia Predictably and Reliably

Abstract

  Blood/gas coefficient of partition in desflurane is lower than those of other volatile anesthetics. Therefore, patients anesthetized with desflurane can recover from anesthesia quickly. In Japan, anesthesiologists have just started to use desflurane. While most of them are aware of the reliable and predicable characteristics of desflurane, they have also experienced difficulties in using high concentrations of desflurane, which can result in airway irritation, hypertension and tachycardia. In this review the physiochemical characteristics of desflurane and the differential properties of desflurane and other volatile anesthetics are described. In addition, how to decide which volatile anesthetics to use in various surgical patients is suggested on the basis of results of previous clinical studies on desflurane both in Japan and Western countries.