[Role of inhalation anesthetics in current anesthesiological practice]

Inhalational anesthetic agents represented for long time the sole or mainly anesthetic technique in general anesthesia. In the last twenty years, however, their use has been also related to toxicity among operating room personnel, chronically exposed to the volatile agents. This toxicity could induce the anesthesiologist to give up the volatile anesthetic agents in favour of a total intravenous anesthetic technique. Nevertheless well constructed prospective studies have clearly demonstrated that there is no significant correlation between morbidity index and chronic exposure to inhalational anesthetics. Furthermore a valid air exchange in the operating room, as well as more appropriate anesthesiologic procedures, have significantly reduced the concentration of volatile anesthetic agents in the operating areas. Nowadays inhalational anesthetic agents represent one of the different choices to perform general anesthesia. The anesthesiologist, however, according to patient's physical status and surgical procedure, must choose the anesthetic technique compatible with minimal risk both for patient and operating room personnel.