What are the three volatile liquid anesthetics?

• A. Sevoflurane, Desflurane, and Isoflurane
• B. Halothane, Sevoflurane, and Desflurane
• C. Isoflurane, Halothane, and Enflurane
• D. Desflurane, Sevoflurane, and Enflurane

Answer: (A)

Inhaled volatile anesthetics are liquids at room temperature that vaporize for administration. The three that are most commonly used today are sevoflurane, desflurane, and isoflurane. Sevoflurane is popular for induction because it is relatively non-irritating to the airways, making mask induction smoother. Desflurane has the fastest onset and offset due to its very low blood-gas solubility, allowing rapid changes in anesthetic depth and quick recovery, though it can irritate the airways and requires careful handling. Isoflurane is a reliable, cost-effective agent for maintenance with good hemodynamic stability, but its pungent odor makes it less suitable for induction. Other older volatile agents like halothane and enflurane are less favored today due to concerns such as hepatotoxicity and epileptiform activity, respectively.