Editing Inhalational anesthetic (section)

==Volatile anaesthetics==

Volatile anaesthetic agents share the property of being liquid at room temperature, but evaporating easily for administration by inhalation. The volatile anesthetics used in the developed world today include: Desflurane, isoflurane and sevoflurane. Other agents widely used in the past include ether, chloroform, enflurane, halothane, methoxyflurane. All of these agents share the property of being quite [[Hydrophobe|hydrophobic]] (i.e., as liquids, they are not freely [[Miscibility|miscible]] with water, and as gases they dissolve in oils better than in water).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537013/ | pmid=30725698 | year=2022 | last1=Clar | first1=D. T. | last2=Patel | first2=S. | last3=Richards | first3=J. R. | title=Anesthetic Gases | publisher=StatPearls }}</ref>

The ideal volatile anaesthetic agent offers smooth and reliable induction and maintenance of [[general anaesthesia]] with minimal effects on non-target [[organ (anatomy)|organ]] systems. In addition it is odorless or pleasant to inhale; safe for all ages and in pregnancy; not metabolised; rapid in onset and offset; potent; safe for exposure to [[Operating theater|operating room]] staff; and has a long [[shelf life]]. It is also cheap to manufacture; easy to transport and store; easy to administer and monitor with standard operating room equipment; stable to light, plastics, metals, [[Natural rubber|rubber]] and [[soda lime]]; and non-flammable and environmentally safe. None of the agents currently in use are ideal, although many have some of the desirable characteristics. For example, sevoflurane is pleasant to inhale and is rapid in onset and offset. It is also safe for all ages. However, it is expensive (approximately 3 to 5 times more expensive than isoflurane), and approximately half as potent as isoflurane.<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14991199/ | pmid=14991199 | year=2004 | last1=Loscar | first1=M. | last2=Conzen | first2=P. | title=Volatile anesthetics | journal=Der Anaesthesist | volume=53 | issue=2 | pages=183–198 | doi=10.1007/s00101-003-0632-6 | s2cid=26029329 }}</ref>