Final answer:
Cyclopropane is an anesthetic that reacts with CO2 absorbents as it degrades, producing both heat and nephrotoxic compounds. Despite its effectiveness, it is no longer used in surgery due to its explosive properties. ß-naphthylamine is an example of a nephrotoxic aromatic amine.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cyclopropane is an anesthetic that reacts with CO2 absorbents as it degrades, producing heat and nephrotoxic compounds. Despite its effectiveness as an anesthetic, cyclopropane is no longer used in surgery because it forms explosive mixtures with air. An example of an aromatic amine that is nephrotoxic is ß-naphthylamine, which is a potent carcinogen.
The anesthetic that reacts with CO2 absorbents and degrades, producing both heat and potentially nephrotoxic compounds, is sevoflurane. Sevoflurane can react with the absorbents, particularly those containing strong bases like potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, leading to the formation of a compound known as Compound A. This reaction is of clinical importance because Compound A has been demonstrated to have nephrotoxic effects in animal studies. Due to these reactions and potential risks, the use of CO2 absorbents with sevoflurane, as well as the monitoring of absorbent temperature, is carefully managed in clinical settings.