Enflurane

Dosage form: liquid for inhalation
Drug class:General anesthetics

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 22, 2022.

Enflurane Description

Enflurane, USP, a nonflammable liquid administered by vaporizing, is a general inhalation anesthetic drug. It is 2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether, (CHF2OCF2CHFCl). The boiling point is 56.5°C at 760 mm Hg, and the vapor pressure (in mm Hg) is 175 at 20°C, 218 at 25°C, and 345 at 36°C. Vapor pressures can be calculated using the equation:

T = ° C + 273.16 (Kelvin)
Enflurane is a clear, colorless, stable liquid whose purity exceeds 99.9% (area percent by gas chromatography). No stabilizers are added as these have been found, through controlled laboratory tests, to be unnecessary even in the presence of ultraviolet light. Enflurane is stable to strong base, does not decompose in contact with soda lime (at normal operating temperatures) and does not react with aluminum, tin, brass, iron or copper. The partition coefficients of Enflurane at 25°C are 74 in conductive rubber and 120 in polyvinyl chloride

Enflurane - Clinical Pharmacology

Enflurane is an inhalation anesthetic. The MAC (minimum alveolar concentration) in man is 1.68% in pure oxygen, 0.57 in 70% nitrous oxide, 30% oxygen, and 1.17 in 30% nitrous oxide, 70% oxygen.Induction of and recovery from anesthesia with Enflurane are rapid. Enflurane has a mild sweet odor. Enflurane may provide a mild stimulus to salivation or tracheobronchial secretions. Pharyngeal and laryngeal reflexes are readily obtunded. The level of anesthesia can be changed rapidly by changing the inspired Enflurane concentration. Enflurane reduces ventilation as depth of anesthesia increases. High PaCO2 levels can be obtained at deeper levels of anesthesia if ventilation is not supported. Enflurane provokes a sigh response reminiscent of that seen with diethyl ether. There is a decrease in blood pressure with induction of anesthesia, followed b