Ultane

Ultane (also known as Sevoflurane) is a sweet-smelling, nonflammable, highly fluorinated methyl isopropyl ether used for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. Together with desflurane, it is replacing isoflurane and halothane in modern anesthesiology. It is often used in surgeries of patients who have asthma or other respiratory problems.

History

Ultane was developed by Abbott Laboratories in the 1960s. It was introduced into clinical practice in Japan in 1990, and then in the United States in 1995.

Pharmacology

Ultane is a volatile anesthetic that is always administered in conjunction with air and/or pure oxygen. Often nitrous oxide is also used. Although its physical properties imply that anesthetic induction with sevoflurane should be slower than with other volatile anesthetics, its low blood/gas partition coefficient makes induction of and recovery from anesthesia very rapid.

Side Effects

Common side effects of Ultane include respiratory depression, coughing, and agitation. Less common side effects include malignant hyperthermia, a potentially life-threatening condition.

See Also

• Anesthesia
• Inhalational anaesthetic
• Desflurane
• Isoflurane
• Halothane