Final answer:
The Minimum Alveolar Concentration (MAC) measures anesthetic potency, with desflurane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane being the modern, less flammable, and preferable inhalant anesthetics due to fewer side effects and improved safety over older anesthetics like halothane.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Anesthetic Potency and Modern Inhalants
In terms of anesthetic potency, Minimum Alveolar Concentration or MAC is a standard measure used to compare the strengths of various inhaling anesthetic agents. A lower MAC value indicates a higher potency of the anesthetic. Common modern anesthetics include desflurane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane, which have largely replaced older compounds such as halothane due to their improved safety profiles. These modern anesthetics, which contain fluorine, are less flammable and have fewer undesirable side effects compared to previous options like diethyl ether.
Desflurane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane are less flammable and less likely to cause side effects such as nausea, making them better choices for both patients and operating room personnel. However, concerns remain about the safety of some older anesthetics for operating room personnel, as evidenced by studies showing increased rates of miscarriage in female workers exposed to halothane.