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Sevoflurane (2, 2, 2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl) ethyl ether), also called fluoromethyl, is a halogenated ether used for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. Together with desflurane, it is replacing isoflurane and halothane in modern anesthesiology. It is often administered in nitrous oxide and pure oxygen. After desflurane it is the volatile anesthetic with the fastest onset and offset.
Though it vaporizes readily, it is a liquid at room temperature and is administered via a anesthetic vaporizer attached to an anesthetic machine.
Sevoflurane is unstable in contact with Soda Lime (NaOH), especially when administered with low fresh gas flows, and produces a degradation product Compound A which causes renal necrosis in rats. In humans, it is found to cause proteinuria and enymuria which are dose-related but renal toxicity itself has not been unequivocally shown. The requirement that sevoflurane be administered with a minimum fresh gas flow of 2 liters per minute makes sevoflurane a relatively expensive choice for maintaining general anesthesia.
Physical properties
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