sevoflurane
Pronunciation: sev-oh-FLEW-rayn
A volatile halogenated ether inhalation anesthetic with a low blood-gas partition coefficient, enabling rapid induction and recovery; used in dental anesthesiology for mask induction and short procedures.
Full Definition
Sevoflurane is a fluorinated methyl isopropyl ether that has largely replaced halothane for mask induction in pediatric and anxious adult dental patients owing to its non-pungent odour and favorable pharmacokinetics. Its blood-gas partition coefficient of approximately 0.65 allows rapid equilibration, and its low MAC (approximately 2.0%) supports precise depth-of-anesthesia control. In editorial contexts, 'sevoflurane' is a single, unhyphenated word written entirely in lowercase unless beginning a sentence. Compound A, a degradation product formed with certain carbon dioxide absorbents, is a pharmacotoxicology consideration that may appear in research manuscripts.
Usage
Usage note: Always lowercase; never hyphenated. Generic name is preferred over brand name in clinical and regulatory copy. Do not conflate with desflurane, which has a pungent odour and different clinical profile.
In Context
- "Mask induction with sevoflurane at 8% was employed for the needle-phobic pediatric patient before intravenous access was established." — Pediatric dental anaesthesia case report
- "The formulary lists sevoflurane as the preferred volatile agent for outpatient dental general anaesthesia." — Hospital formulary document