desflurane + oxygen

Desflurane + oxygen is a combination used for inhalational anesthesia, where desflurane, a volatile halogenated ether anesthetic, is administered in an oxygen carrier gas. Desflurane acts primarily as a general anesthetic by modulating neuronal ion channels—most notably as an agonist at the GABA-A receptor and glycine receptors, and as an antagonist at glutamate receptors. It also induces potassium voltage-gated channels and inhibits NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase chain 1 and calcium transporting ATPases[6]. Oxygen serves as the essential carrier gas to support patient oxygenation during anesthesia. This combination is indicated for induction (in adults) and maintenance (in adults and intubated pediatric patients) of general anesthesia during surgical procedures[1][8][9]. The minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of desflurane in 100% oxygen is approximately 6.3%[7]. The use of this combination allows rapid adjustment of anesthetic depth due to desflurane’s low blood-gas solubility.