Desflurane differs from isoflurane most significantly in which pharmacokinetic property that makes it preferred for outpatient anaesthesia requiring rapid emergence?

• A Higher blood-gas partition coefficient
• B Greater lipid solubility
• C Higher degree of hepatic metabolism
• D Lower blood-gas partition coefficient (0.45 vs 1.4) ✓

Explanation

Desflurane has a blood-gas partition coefficient of 0.45 compared to isoflurane's 1.4, resulting in very limited uptake and distribution in blood and tissues. This low solubility produces rapid equilibration between alveolar and inspired concentrations, ensuring faster induction and — more clinically relevant — markedly faster emergence and return of protective reflexes. Greater lipid solubility and hepatic metabolism would actually slow recovery.

Reference: Morgan & Mikhail's Clinical Anesthesiology, 6th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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