SEVOFLURANE, ISOFLURANE, DESFLURANE: WHICH ONE AND WHEN?

SEVOFLURANE, ISOFLURANE, DESFLURANE: WHICH ONE AND WHEN?

From Atomic Anesthesia by Rhea Temmermand, PhD, CRNA & Sachi Lord, MSN, CRNA

June 9, 2026 · 30 min · Episode 96

About this episode

This episode discusses the characteristics and clinical applications of sevoflurane, isoflurane, and desflurane in anesthesia practice.

Welcome to the Atomic Anesthesia podcast hosted by CRNA professor Dr. Rhea Temmermand and Co-Founder Sachi Lord. On this show, you'll hear clear, clinically grounded discussions designed for nurse anesthesia residents and CRNAs who want to feel more confident in complex pharmacology, physiology, and real-world anesthesia decision-making. Want more content like this? Become a member of our learning platform: http://atomicanesthesia.com In this episode: Why desflurane needs its own specialized Tec 6 vaporizer (and what its 22.8°C boiling point means for safe delivery) The four inhalational agents you need to know cold — sevoflurane, isoflurane, desflurane, nitrous oxide — with MAC values, blood:gas coefficients, and clinical trade-offs How coronary steal actually works with isoflurane, and when it matters at the bedside The second gas effect explained at the alveolar level: concentrating effect + augmented inflow Compound A, carbon monoxide, methionine synthase inhibition — the metabolic pitfalls each agent brings to a case Tailoring agent choice for pediatric, geriatric, pregnant, neuro, and cardiac patients 💜 FREE DOWNLOADS: Grab your copy of customized study plans &amp…

People in this episode

Hosts: Rhea Temmermand, Sachi Lord

Topics covered

  • anesthesia pharmacology
  • inhalational agents
  • clinical decision-making
  • patient-specific anesthesia
  • metabolic pitfalls

Keywords

  • anesthesia
  • sevoflurane
  • isoflurane
  • desflurane
  • MAC values
  • blood:gas coefficients
  • coronary steal
  • second gas effect
  • metabolic pitfalls

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Atomic Anesthesia

Products: sevoflurane, isoflurane, desflurane, nitrous oxide

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