GasGasGas - Anaesthetic Science for the FRCA Exams GasGasGas - Introducing Volatiles!
Oct 17, 2025
Discover the fascinating world of volatile anaesthetic agents and their unique properties. Explore critical temperatures and learn how they differentiate gases from vapours. Understand saturated vapour pressure with a creative thought experiment. Delve into the significance of boiling points and the need for specific vapourisers. Uncover the intricacies of blood-gas and oil-gas solubility and how they relate to anaesthetic potency. Gain insights into the ideal characteristics of a volatile agent and the underlying mechanisms of action.
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Podcast Kerfuffle With The Opioids Quiz
- Dr Gas Lurks apologises for a messed-up opioids quiz due to mastering errors and a repeatedly sacked sound engineer.
- He jokes the engineer might take up video editing instead after the trouble.
Critical Temperature Defines Vapour Versus Gas
- Critical temperature separates true gases from vapours based on whether pressure can induce liquefaction.
- Below the critical temperature molecules exist as vapour and above it they behave as true gases.
Saturated Vapour Pressure Controls Vapour Dose
- Saturated vapour pressure (SVP) is the equilibrium partial pressure where liquid-vapour exchange rates equalise at a given temperature.
- SVP is agent-, temperature- and pressure-specific and determines how much vapour fills a closed space.