Suprane

Suprane is the brand name for desflurane, a volatile inhalational anesthetic used to induce and maintain general anesthesia. Desflurane is a halogenated ether delivered by a calibrated vaporizer and administered in an oxygen- or air-oxygen mixture. It is commonly used for maintenance of anesthesia rather than induction in many patients.

Clinically, desflurane is valued for its very low blood-gas solubility, which produces rapid changes in anesthetic depth and enables swift emergence after the agent is discontinued. It is generally not favored for inhalational induction due to pungent odor and airway irritation that can provoke coughing, breath-holding, or laryngospasm. It is typically employed after induction with another agent and during maintenance of anesthesia.

Pharmacologically, desflurane has a relatively high minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) in adults, around 6–7%, making it effective at preventing movement in response to surgical stimuli. It is metabolized minimally by the liver, with most of the dose exhaled unchanged. The exact mechanism of action is not fully understood, but inhaled anesthetics are thought to enhance inhibitory neurotransmission via GABA-A and glycine receptors and to dampen excitatory pathways such as NMDA receptors.

Safety considerations include airway irritation at higher concentrations, potential tachycardia or hypertension, and a vasodilatory effect that can lower blood pressure. Desflurane may increase intracranial pressure in susceptible individuals and carries a risk of triggering malignant hyperthermia in susceptible patients. As with all volatile anesthetics, its use requires trained anesthesia personnel and appropriate anesthesia equipment.