All anesthetics, when administered in the absence of surgical stimulation, depress respiration and minute ventilation in a dose-dependent manner by decreasing tidal volume and increasing respiratory rate.

1. Airway resistance increases during desflurane anesthesia and decreases during sevoflurane anesthesia. (In children with asthma, the former is best avoided, and the latter is preferred.)
2. Upper airway responses to inhalational anesthesia (by mask) depend on both the concentration and the particular anesthetic administered. (Whereas sevoflurane does not trigger these reflex responses, isoflurane and desflurane are most irritating to the airway, particularly at >1 MAC concentrations.) The package insert for desflurane cautions against using it for inhalational inductions in children.

Pediatric Anesthesia

1. Anatomy and Physiology
2. Pharmacology
3. Respiration
4. Cardiovascular
5. Central Nervous System
6. Renal
7. Hepatic
8. In Vivo Metabolism
9. Intravenous
10. Sedatives
11. Preoperative Assessment
12. Induction of Anesthesia
13. Preoperative Preparation
14. Induction Techniques
15. Maintenance of Anesthesia
16. Emergency and Recovery from Anesthesia
17. Transfer to the Postanesthesia Care Unit (PACU)