Stability of Sevoflurane in Soda Lime

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Abstract
Stability of a halogenated volatile anesthetic is important because of the potential toxicity associated with the breakdown products. The authors enclosed 100 ml of gas containing sevoflurane with 100 g of soda lime in a 581-ml flask for periods up to 24 h. The rate of degradation of sevoflurane by soda lime was several-fold greater than previously reported, and the degradation was temperature-dependent. At 22.degree. C, soda lime degraded 6.5% of the sevoflurane per hour. The rate increased by 1.6% per hour per degree rise in the temperature, reaching 57.4% degradation per hour at 54.degree. C. In contrast, isoflurane was not degraded by soda lime. Halothane did not degrade at 22.degree. C or 37.degree. C, but did degrade (2.2% per hour) at 54.degree. C.