- Onset of action
- Blood:gas partition coefficient (↑higher = slower)
- The ratio of anesthetic concentrations in the blood and alveolar space when partial pressures in the two compartments are equal. Higher blood-gas partition coefficients of an inhalational anesthetic correspond to higher solubility in the blood.
- Solubility in blood (↑higher = slower)
- Potency (the dose of a drug required to produce a pharmacologic response of a specified intensity)
- Oil/gas partition coefficient (↑higher = more potent)
- MAC (↓lower = more potent)
- Minimum Alveolar Concentration (of inhaled anesthetic) required to prevent 50% of subjects from moving in response to noxious stimulus.
- Potency = 1/MAC
Adverse effects
- Postoperative nausea and vomiting
- Risk of malignant hyperthermia (except nitrous oxide)
- Decrease vascular resistance in brain and lead to an increase in cerebral blood flow → increased ICP