Which volatile anesthetic has a pungent odor and requires a vaporizer?

Which volatile anesthetic has a pungent odor and requires a vaporizer?

• A. Desflurane
• B. Sevoflurane
• C. Isoflurane
• D. Nitrous oxide

Answer: (A)

Desflurane is known for a pungent, airway-irritating odor, which makes inhalational induction uncomfortable and often avoided in favor of agents with gentler smells. All volatile anesthetics require a vaporizer to deliver a precise concentration, but desflurane’s very low boiling point and high vapor pressure mean a standard vaporizer wouldn’t reliably regulate its delivery. It needs a specialized heated, temperature-controlled desflurane vaporizer to maintain accurate output. In contrast, sevoflurane has a pleasant odor and is typically used for induction with standard vaporizers, isoflurane has a pungent odor but is delivered via standard vaporizers, and nitrous oxide is a gas at room temperature that does not use a liquid vaporizer.