enflurane

Enflurane is a halogenated inhalational anesthetic agent used for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia and for analgesia during labor and delivery. It was developed by Ross Terrell in 1963 and first used clinically in 1966. Enflurane is a clear, colorless liquid with a mild, sweet odor. Induction of and recovery from anesthesia with enflurane are rapid. Its mechanism of action involves positive allosteric modulation of GABAA and glycine receptors, leading to central nervous system depressant effects; it also acts on calcium channels in the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum causing cardiodepressant effects. Enflurane can lower the seizure threshold and has been associated with increased risk of seizures compared to other inhaled anesthetics[1][2][7]. It has largely been replaced by newer agents but was previously widely used for surgical anesthesia.

Brand names

EthraneEnflurane

Other names

enflurane