Which inhaled anesthetic has the highest blood/gas solubility coefficient, leading to the largest storage of gas in blood and slower onset?

Which inhaled anesthetic has the highest blood/gas solubility coefficient, leading to the largest storage of gas in blood and slower onset?

• A. A Halothane
• B. B Desflurane
• C. C Sevoflurane
• D. D Isoflurane

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how soluble an inhaled anesthetic is in blood. A higher blood/gas partition coefficient means more of the gas dissolves in blood before it reaches the brain, acting as a reservoir. This slows the rise of the alveolar and brain concentrations, so induction takes longer and recovery can be slower too. Among the options, halothane has the highest blood/gas solubility, so it stores more gas in blood and has the slowest onset compared with the others. Desflurane, sevoflurane, and isoflurane have progressively lower solubilities, leading to faster onsets.

The key idea is how soluble an inhaled anesthetic is in blood. A higher blood/gas partition coefficient means more of the gas dissolves in blood before it reaches the brain, acting as a reservoir. This slows the rise of the alveolar and brain concentrations, so induction takes longer and recovery can be slower too.

Among the options, halothane has the highest blood/gas solubility, so it stores more gas in blood and has the slowest onset compared with the others. Desflurane, sevoflurane, and isoflurane have progressively lower solubilities, leading to faster onsets.