Final answer:
The volatile agents are ranked from highest to lowest metabolism as follows: Halothane, Sevoflurane, Isoflurane, and Desflurane. Halothane has the highest metabolism rate, while Desflurane has the lowest.
Step-by-step explanation:
To rank the volatile agents in terms of their metabolism, we look at how much of the agent is metabolized by the body during its use as an anesthesic. Notable among inhalation anesthetics are halothane, isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane. Of these, halothane is metabolized to the greatest extent, with around 20% to 40% undergoing metabolic transformation in the body. On the other hand, isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane are much less extensively metabolized, with only about 0.2%, 2-5%, and less than 0.02% respectively being metabolized.
Therefore, the correct ranking from highest to lowest in terms of metabolism is as follows:
- Halothane
- Sevoflurane
- Isoflurane
- Desflurane