Inhalational agents: desflurane: practice question

A Anaesthesia question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anaesthesia · Inhalational agents: desflurane

Sample item

Which feature of desflurane requires a special heated and pressurised vaporiser?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Boiling point near room temperature (23 degrees C)

Desflurane has a boiling point of 23 degrees C and a vapour pressure near 664 mmHg at 20 degrees C, so the Tec 6 vaporiser heats it to 39 degrees C. It is also pungent and can cause airway irritation and coughing.

Option by option

  • A. Boiling point near room temperature (23 degrees C) (correct)

    Correct. Volatility near room temperature needs a special vaporiser.

  • B. Ester structure

    Desflurane is a halogenated ether, not an ester.

  • C. High blood solubility

    It has low blood solubility, not high.

  • D. Low potency in children

    Potency in children does not require a special vaporiser.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is A, Boiling point near room temperature (23 degrees C). Desflurane has a boiling point of 23 degrees C and a vapour pressure near 664 mmHg at 20 degrees C, so the Tec 6 vaporiser heats it to 39 degrees C.

Why is "Ester structure" not the answer?

Desflurane is a halogenated ether, not an ester.

Why is "High blood solubility" not the answer?

It has low blood solubility, not high.

Why is "Low potency in children" not the answer?

Potency in children does not require a special vaporiser.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Inhalational agents: desflurane in Anaesthesia. It is also pungent and can cause airway irritation and coughing.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Inhalational agents: desflurane?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.