The role of new anesthetic agents

Pharmacol Ther. 1999 Dec;84(3):233-48. doi: 10.1016/s0163-7258(99)00034-0.

Abstract

The three anesthetic drugs introduced most recently to the market are sevoflurane, desflurane, and ropivacaine. Sevoflurane and desflurane are both inhalational anesthetic agents and ropivacaine is a local anesthetic agent. Sevoflurane provides a rapid onset and offset of action; it is well tolerated with little airway irritation. It is hemodynamically stable, with low potential for toxicity. Concerns about its interaction with soda lime during low-flow anesthesia with the production of Compound A have not proved to be a clinical problem. While desflurane also provides rapid onset and recovery from anesthesia, it is not as hemodynamically stable as sevoflurane, and also causes airway irritation. Ropivacaine is a unique local anesthetic in that it is supplied as the pure S-enantiomer. It is at least as effective as bupivacaine, with lower toxicity and less motor block for the same degree of sensory block.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amides / adverse effects
  • Amides / pharmacokinetics
  • Amides / pharmacology*
  • Anesthetics / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Desflurane
  • Drug Interactions
  • Humans
  • Isoflurane / adverse effects
  • Isoflurane / analogs & derivatives*
  • Isoflurane / pharmacokinetics
  • Isoflurane / pharmacology
  • Methyl Ethers / adverse effects
  • Methyl Ethers / pharmacokinetics
  • Methyl Ethers / pharmacology*
  • Ropivacaine
  • Sevoflurane

Substances

  • Amides
  • Anesthetics
  • Methyl Ethers
  • Sevoflurane
  • Ropivacaine
  • Desflurane
  • Isoflurane