Which of the following inhalational agent causes maximum increase in intracranial pressure (ICP).
All inhalational anaesthetic agents increase cerebral blood flow (CBF) and intracranial pressure (ICP) in dose dependent manner. Halothane increases the ICP most of having maximum vasodilating effect on cerebral blood vessel. Thus for neurosurgery when patient may already have raised intracranial pressure it should be avoided. Sevoflurane , isoflurane and desflurane equally increases intracranial pressure much less than halothane.
Halothane
Isoflurane
Sevoflurane
Desflurane
Inhalational Anesthetic Agents