Agents

[EBME Tech]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I have a few basic questions about general anaesthesia. Why are IV's such as Propofol used for induction, instead of an inhalation agent?

Am I correct to say Propofol and other IV's are not utilised in anaesthesia maintenance, because their effects are relatively short?

Thank you.

 

[deleted875186]

Because in adults the inhalation always anesthetics take too long to reach an adequate depth. Don’t want to be doing 10 min inhalational inductions. Otherwise all the inhalational anesthetic date more complete anesthetics on their own than propofol.

Also, the offset time for propofol after about 4 hours is much longer than the modern inhalational anesthetics.

 

[2010houston]

Inhalational agents can be used and are used for induction in children; in adults the risk (airway obstruction with inhalational) / benefit (quicker with IV) certainly favors propofol.

propofol certainly can and sometimes is used in anesthetic maintenance, but it is more expensive and slightly more of a pain to set up than inhaled volatile anesthetics. It’s used as an infusion.

 

[Hork Bajir]

OP: is there a question behind the question? Would help to know what exactly you’re trying to figure out, since it seems from your wording like your baseline medical knowledge might be limited. Are you in medicine?

 

[Arch Guillotti]

This forum is not the appropriate site for this discussion. Closing.