ETHER
Introduction:
- First demonstrated by Morton, dentist in 1846.
- Chemically diethyl ether.
- Only complete anesthetic agent available with all anesthetic properties (narcosis, analgesia, muscle relaxation).
- Yet unused nowadays – Due to inflammatory & explosive nature.
Properties:
- Potent anesthetic.
- Good analgesic.
- Maximum muscle relaxing property among anesthetics.
- Highly volatile liquid.
- Produces highly inflammable & irritating vapors of explosive nature.
- Highly soluble in blood – Prolonged induction.
- Undergoes (10-15%) hepatic metabolism.
Precautions:
- Inflammable – Caution required.
- Cautery should not be used.
Advantages:
- Very cheap & safe even in inexperienced hands.
- Hence used at remote places (like wars & disasters).
- Does not produce any cardiac or respiratory depression.
- BP & respiration well maintained – Due to reflex stimulation & high sympathetic tone.
Adverse effects:
- Marked postoperative nausea & vomiting –
- Most emetogenic of all inhalational agents.
- Increases respiratory & salivary secretion –
- Due to irritant properties.
- Causes hyperglycemia.
- Does not sensitize heart to adrenaline.
Contraindications:
- In diabetic – Causes hyperglycemia.
Exam Important
- Ether was first used by Morton.
- Disadvantages of anesthetic ether are slow induction, irritant nature & cautery cannot be used.
- In formal-ether concentration technique, sediment layer contain parasites.
- Stages of anesthesia were established by ether.
- Ether has no effect on heart.
- The plane of surgical anesthesia during ether anesthesia is defined as from onset of regular respiration to cessation of spontaneous breathing.
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