Desflurane
(±)-2-Difluoromethyl 1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl ether
Also known as: Suprane · I-653 · desfluraani · desflurano · desfluranum
Reviewed by the VetSheet Veterinary TeamUpdated Apr 5, 2026Evidence-based veterinary reference
Doses are a clinical reference for licensed veterinary professionals. Always confirm against the current label and the individual patient.
Dosing by species
🌎 NA — North America🌍 EU — Europe
Dogs
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Anesthesia (Clinically useful concentrations) | Induction = 8-15%; Maintenance = 5-9% | Inhalation | Continuous | As needed | 🌎 NA |
| General Anesthesia (Emergency patients) | 6% | Inhalation | Continuous | As needed | 🌎 NA |
| General Anesthesia (Following IV induction) | start with a vaporiser setting of about 8% (around MAC in most animals), increasing the concentration as required. | Inhalation | Continuous | As needed | 🌎 NA |
- General Anesthesia (Emergency patients): Approximate MAC for emergency patients
Cats
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Anesthesia (Clinically useful concentrations) | Induction = 8-15%; Maintenance = 5-9% | Inhalation | Continuous | As needed | 🌎 NA |
| General Anesthesia (Emergency patients) | 6% | Inhalation | Continuous | As needed | 🌎 NA |
| General Anesthesia (Following IV induction) | start with a vaporiser setting of about 8% (around MAC in most animals), increasing the concentration as required. | Inhalation | Continuous | As needed | 🌎 NA |
- General Anesthesia (Emergency patients): Approximate MAC for emergency patients
Doses are a clinical reference for licensed veterinary professionals. Always confirm against the current label and the individual patient.
Overview
Desflurane is a halogenated volatile inhalant anesthetic with a chemical structure nearly identical to isoflurane, differing only by the substitution of a fluorine atom for chlorine at the alpha-ethyl carbon.
Key Clinical Features:
- Extremely Rapid Kinetics: Its very low blood/gas partition coefficient (0.42) allows for exceptionally fast induction and recovery times compared to other inhalants.
- Specialized Equipment Required: Because its boiling point (22-23°C) is near room temperature, desflurane requires a specific, electrically heated, and pressurized vaporizer, which can be expensive.
- Airway Irritant: Unlike sevoflurane, desflurane has a pungent odor and is a respiratory irritant, making it poorly suited for mask inductions (can cause breath-holding, salivation, and laryngospasm).
- Minimal Metabolism: It is highly resistant to biodegradation (only 0.02% metabolized), minimizing the risk of hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity.
Mechanism of action
While the exact mechanism of inhalant anesthetics remains incompletely understood, desflurane is believed to produce general anesthesia by interacting with the lipid matrix of neuronal membranes and modulating multiple ligand-gated ion channels in the central nervous system.
Mechanistic Pathways:
- GABA_A and Glycine Receptors: Potentiates inhibitory neurotransmission → CNS depression.
- NMDA Receptors: Inhibits excitatory glutamatergic transmission.
Minimum Alveolar Concentration (MAC) in Oxygen:
- Dogs: 7%
- Cats: 9.8%
- Horses: 7.23%
- Rabbits: 8.9%
- Alpacas/Llamas: 7.8-8.0%
Note: Desflurane causes dose-dependent cardiovascular (hypotension) and respiratory depression, but does not sensitize the myocardium to catecholamine-induced arrhythmias.
Safety & warnings
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to desflurane or other halogenated anesthetic agents
- History of or predilection towards malignant hyperthermia
Adverse effects
- Hypotension (dose-dependent)
- Respiratory depression (dose-dependent)
- Respiratory irritation and salivation (especially with mask induction)
- Sympathetic stimulation (tachycardia/hypertension) with rapid increases in concentration
- Malignant hyperthermia (in susceptible individuals, though incidence may be lower than other halogenated agents)
- Transient increases in glucose and white blood cell count
Precautions
Rapid Recovery Warning: Because recovery is exceptionally fast, patients may wake up in pain if perioperative analgesics are not administered proactively. Ensure appropriate analgesia and sedation are on board before discontinuing the gas, particularly in large animals.
- Induction: Due to its rapid action, use caution not to overdose during the induction phase.
- Neurologic Patients: Use with caution (weigh benefits vs. risks) in patients with increased CSF pressure or head injury.
- Compromised Patients: Geriatric or critically ill animals typically require lower concentrations of inhalation anesthetics.
- Occupational Safety: NIOSH recommends workers should not be exposed to ceiling concentrations > 2 ppm over a 1-hour sampling period.
Drug interactions
Concomitant use may increase risks for severe hypotension.
Additive neuromuscular blockade may occur.
May induce increased incidences of cardiac effects (bradycardia, arrhythmias, sinus arrest, apnea) and trigger malignant hyperthermia in susceptible patients.
Monitoring
- Respiratory rate, rhythm, and ventilatory status (capnography)
- Cardiac rate and rhythm (ECG)
- Arterial blood pressure
- Level of anesthetic depth (jaw tone, palpebral reflex)
- Body temperature
- Neuromuscular function
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption
Onset of action is very rapid after inhalation; often described as a 'one breath' induction.
Distribution
At body temperature (37°C), blood/gas coefficient is 0.47 (predicts rapid recovery), oil/gas coefficient is 19 (indicates potency), and brain/blood coefficient is 1.3.
Metabolism
Highly resistant to biodegradation; very little is eliminated via hepatic routes (only 0.02% recovered as metabolites).
Elimination
Primarily eliminated unchanged via exhalation.
Overdose
In the event of an overdosage, immediately discontinue desflurane. Maintain a patent airway and provide positive pressure ventilation with 100% oxygen. Support cardiovascular function with intravenous fluids and sympathomimetics as necessary.
Available products
Formulations
- Inhalation solution (liquid for vaporization)
Human-labeled
- Desflurane Solution for Inhalation Anesthesia in 240 mL bottles (Suprane)
Regulatory status
No regulatory data for: 🇺🇸 US · 🇪🇺 EU · 🇬🇧 UK · 🇭🇰 HK · 🇹🇼 TW · 🇯🇵 JP · 🇰🇷 KR · 🇦🇺 AU
Storage & stability
Store in original container at 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F). Secure cap tightly after use and protect from light. Before opening, the contents of the bottle should be cooled to below 10°C (48°F). Relatively stable in soda lime at room temperature, but can produce carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. At 80°C, rate of degradation per hour is 0.44%.
Client information
Desflurane is an inhaled anesthetic gas used to keep your pet asleep and pain-free during surgery.
- Rapid Wake-Up: Its primary advantage is that it leaves the body very quickly once the vaporizer is turned off, allowing your pet to wake up from anesthesia much faster than with older anesthetic gases.
- Pain Management: Because your pet will wake up so quickly, the veterinary team will ensure that injectable pain medications are given before the gas is turned off, so your pet wakes up comfortable and pain-free.
- Safety: It is considered very safe and places minimal stress on the liver and kidneys.
VetSheet drug reference is intended for licensed veterinary professionals as a clinical decision-support aid, not a substitute for professional judgement or the manufacturer’s current label.