Inhalation anesthesia

The goal of delivering surgical anesthesia with an inhalation anesthetic (e.g., isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane) is to maintain a constant and optimal partial pressure of the anesthetic in the alveoli of the lungs and central nervous systems (CNS). The speed of achieving surgical plane of anesthesia, the rate of anesthetic depth variation, and the time until consciousness is regained and recovery is achieved are normally faster for an inhalation anesthetic with a lower blood solubility than anesthetics with higher blood solubility. Sevoflurane-induced circulatory effects have the characteristics of both isoflurane and halothane. Isoflurane and sevoflurane can be used to produce effective and safe anesthesia in pigs. The inhalation anesthesia has the advantage of maintaining steady levels of anesthesia even for lengthy surgical procedures or research experiment in cattle like camelids and ruminants.