Induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia

Indication for Isoflurane

Population group: Suitable for both men and women, only adults (18 years old or older)

Isoflurane is general inhalation anaesthetic for use in induction and maintenance.

For this indication, competent medicine agencies globally authorize below treatments:

0.5-3.0%

Route of admnistration

Respiratory (Inhalation)

Defined daily dose

0.5 - 3 %

Dosage regimen

From 0.5 To 3 % once every day

Detailed description

Posology

MAC values for isoflurane vary with age. The table below indicates average MAC values for different age groups.

Adults:

AGEAverage MAC value
In 100% Oxygen70% N2O
26 ± 4 years1.28%0.56%
44 ± 7 years1.15%0.50%
64 ± 5 years1.05%0.37%

Premedication

Premedication drugs should be selected according to the needs of the patient. The respiratory depressant effect of isoflurane should be taken into account. The use of anticholinergic drugs is a matter of choice, but may we advisable for inhalation induction in paediatrics.

Induction

As isoflurane has a mild pungency, inhalation should usually be preceded by the use of a short acting barbiturate, or other intravenous induction agent, to prevent coughing. Alternatively, isoflurane with oxygen or with an oxygen/nitrous oxide mixture may be administered.

It is recommended that induction with isoflurane be initiated at a concentration of 0.5%. Concentrations of 1.5-3.0% usually produce surgical anaesthesia in 7-10 minutes.

Maintenance

Adequate anaesthesia for surgery may be sustained with an inspired isoflurane concentration of 1.0% to 2.5% in an oxygen/nitrous oxide mixture. Additional isoflurane (0.5% to 1.0%) may be required when isoflurane is given with oxygen alone.

For caesarean section, 0.5-0.75% isoflurane in a mixture of oxygen/nitrous oxide is suitable to maintain anaesthesia for this procedure.

Arterial pressure levels during maintenance tend to be inversely related to alveolar isoflurane concentration in the absence of other complicating factors. Provided there are no other complicating factors this is probably due to peripheral vasodilation. Excessive falls in blood pressure may be due to the depth of anaesthesia and, in such circumstances, can be corrected by reducing the inspired isoflurane concentration.

Dosage considerations

Vaporisers specially calibrated for isoflurane should be used so that the concentration of anaesthetic can be accurately controlled.

Active ingredient

Isoflurane is a general inhalational anaesthetic for use in induction and maintenance. Isoflurane provides rapid induction of anaesthesia and also rapid recovery.

Isoflurane is a fluorinated ether with general anesthetic and muscle relaxant activities. Although the exact mechanism of action has not been established, inhaled isoflurane, appears to act on the lipid matrix of the neuronal cell membrane, which results in disruption of neuronal transmission. This agent enhances the release of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), thereby increasing the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter on synaptic transmission. Isoflurane may also both inhibit glutamatergic excitatory transmission by increasing glutamate re-uptake, and potentiate glycine receptor activity, which decreases motor function. In addition, isoflurane may alter certain pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 and -10 (IL-6, IL-10), possibly through the activation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-KB) pathway, which may affect immune responses during surgery.

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