Inhalational agents

There are many inhalational anaesthetic agents. These include:

• Sevoflurane
• Methoxlyflurane
• Halothane
• Isoflurane
• Enflurane
• Ether
• Desflurane

Modern anaesthetic agents are very potent. All are liquids at room temperature and vaporise readily, so they must be delivered using a purpose-made vaporiser. The concentration of anaesthetic needed to induce and maintain anaesthesia varies between the different agents.