Final answer:
The most widely used volatile inhaled anesthetics today are desflurane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane, often combined with nitrous oxide, and are administered through an anesthesia machine as vapor. While historically diethyl ether was a common choice, its flammability and side effects led to its replacement with less flammable options like halothane, enflurane, and isoflurane.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most soluble inhaled anesthetic refers to the one that dissolves the most efficiently in blood and is capable of inducing anesthesia effectively. Among the various inhaled anesthetics used for inhalation anesthesia, halothane, enflurane, and isoflurane are noted for their use, although each has its own characteristics regarding solubility, potency, and side effects. In modern practice, desflurane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane are the most widely used volatile anesthetics, commonly combined with nitrous oxide to enhance their anesthetic effects.
These anesthetics are administered through an anesthesia machine, which vaporizes the liquid anesthetics and allows for a precise mixture with oxygen and air to deliver it safely to the patient. All inhalational anesthetics share the property of being quite hydrophobic, meaning they dissolve more easily in oils than in water, which affects their administration and effects on the body.
Historically, diethyl ether was used due to its wide safety margin between the effective and lethal doses. However, its high flammability and propensity to cause nausea led to the replacement by newer anesthetics like halothane, enflurane, and isoflurane, which are less flammable and generally safer to use despite some concerns regarding the safety for operating room personnel.