desflurane at a glance
Medicine class
Volatile halogenated general anaesthetic
How it is given
Inhaled through specialist anaesthetic equipment by a trained professional
Recovery
Low blood solubility allows anaesthetic depth to change quickly and supports prompt emergence after it is stopped
What is desflurane used for?
Licensed uses for the selected product are:
Starting and maintaining general anaesthesia for inpatient or outpatient surgery in adults.
Maintaining general anaesthesia for inpatient or outpatient surgery in infants and children. It is not licensed to start anaesthesia by inhalation in children because airway reactions occur frequently.
How does desflurane work?
Desflurane is breathed into the lungs and carried in the blood to the brain, where it alters signalling across several neuronal targets. This produces concentration-related, reversible unconsciousness, reduced pain sensation and suppression of movement and reflexes. Its low blood solubility permits rapid adjustment and elimination through the lungs, with very little metabolism.
How to take desflurane
Desflurane is not self-administered. A trained anaesthetic professional delivers it through a desflurane-specific vaporiser while continuously monitoring breathing, oxygen levels, circulation and anaesthetic depth. Follow the hospital’s fasting, usual-medicine and aftercare instructions.
Tell the anaesthetic team about all medicines, allergies, previous anaesthetic problems and any family history of malignant hyperthermia.
Do not eat or drink outside the hospital’s fasting instructions.
Arrange suitable help and transport after discharge. Do not drive or operate machinery while affected by the general anaesthetic.
desflurane side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea or vomiting after the procedure
- Cough, breath-holding or airway spasm, particularly during inhaled induction
- Headache
- Sore or inflamed throat
- Changes in heart rate or blood pressure
- Increased saliva
Get urgent medical advice
- Malignant hyperthermia, with rapidly rising temperature, muscle rigidity, fast heart rate or unstable blood pressure
- Severe breathing problems, bronchospasm or respiratory arrest
- Serious allergic reaction
- Dangerous heart-rhythm disturbance or cardiac arrest
- Severe potassium elevation, muscle breakdown or dark urine, particularly with neuromuscular disease
- Liver inflammation or failure, which may cause jaundice
desflurane in pregnancy
The selected product is not indicated during pregnancy because adequate human data are unavailable. Its safety in obstetric procedures has not been established, and it can relax the uterus and reduce uteroplacental blood flow. Discuss pregnancy with the anaesthetist and surgical or obstetric team when planning a procedure.
desflurane while breastfeeding
The selected product is not indicated during lactation because adequate product-specific human data are unavailable. Independent evidence notes that desflurane leaves the maternal circulation quickly and is unlikely to be absorbed by the infant, so interruption of breastfeeding is generally not expected solely because of desflurane. The team should consider all medicines used and whether the parent is awake enough to feed safely.
desflurane interactions
The anaesthetic team reviews all medicines because combinations can alter anaesthetic depth, breathing, circulation or muscle relaxation.
Opioids, such as fentanyl
They reduce desflurane requirements and can add to respiratory and sedative effects.
Benzodiazepines, such as midazolam
They reduce desflurane requirements and may increase sedation and respiratory depression.
Neuromuscular blocking medicines
Desflurane strengthens and may prolong neuromuscular blockade, so monitoring and adjustment are required.
Common questions about desflurane
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Can desflurane be given at home?
No. It requires specialist hospital equipment, continuous monitoring and administration by a trained anaesthetic professional.
Why can recovery be relatively quick?
Desflurane dissolves poorly in blood and tissues and is removed mainly through the lungs, allowing its effect to fall promptly after administration stops.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.