- Effective sedative effects, with rapid onset and offset allowing easy titratability
- Reduction in dosing requirements for IV sedative-analgesic agents
- Minimal metabolism and likely minimal organ toxicity
- Ready availability during shortages of IV sedative and analgesic agents
- Potentially advantageous respiratory effects (eg, bronchodilation, anti-inflammatory pulmonary effects)
- Dose-dependent muscle relaxation
| - Scant safety data during use for prolonged periods in critically ill patients
- Rapid consumption of anesthetic when fresh gas flow is high
- Potential for inadequate sedation if depletion of anesthetic agent in the vaporizer is not noticed
- Potential difficulty with connection of the anesthesia machine scavenger to a compatible waste anesthesia gas disposal (WAGD) outlet
- Environmental damaging effect (global warming), especially with desflurane
- Need for constant presence of an anesthesia professional due to lack of familiarity among other personnel (eg, intensivists, respiratory therapists) with use of anesthesia machines
- Potentially undesirable systemic effects:
- Cardiovascular (myocardial depression and vasodilation)
- Respiratory (respiratory depression and possible airway irritation with isoflurane or especially desflurane)
- Cerebral (dose-dependent cerebral vasodilation with increased CBF and ICP)
- Possible increased risk of diabetes insipidus
- Rare cases of malignant hyperthermia
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