Desflurane and remifentanil combination

The combination of desflurane and remifentanil is a pharmacological regimen used in balanced anesthesia to achieve a state of unconsciousness and profound analgesia during surgical procedures (StatPearls, 2023). Desflurane is a polyfluorinated methyl ethyl ether that functions as an inhaled general anesthetic, primarily by enhancing inhibitory postsynaptic channel activity, such as GABA-A and glycine receptors, and inhibiting excitatory synaptic channels (PubChem, CID 42156). Remifentanil is a potent, ultra-short-acting synthetic mu-opioid receptor agonist characterized by its rapid onset and offset due to metabolism by non-specific plasma and tissue esterases (NIH, 2022). Together, these agents allow for precise control over the depth of anesthesia and rapid recovery, though the combination requires careful monitoring for cardiovascular and respiratory side effects like hypotension and bradycardia (PubMed, PMID 10875715). This regimen is not a single biological target but rather a synergistic application of two distinct drugs targeting multiple receptors in the central nervous system.

Other names

Desflurane-remifentanil anesthesiaBalanced anesthesia with desflurane and remifentanil

Desflurane acts primarily by modulating GABA-A and glycine receptors to induce hypnosis and immobility (StatPearls, 2023), while remifentanil acts as a potent, selective mu-opioid receptor agonist to provide intense analgesia (PubChem, CID 60815).