Diethyl ether

Diethyl ether, also known simply as ether, is a colorless, highly volatile, and flammable liquid that was once widely employed as an inhalation anesthetic in medical procedures. Diethyl ether has a characteristic sweet odor and a rapid onset of action, which led to its widespread use as an anesthetic agent in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Diethyl ether 2D skeletal

Pharmacological Properties

The anesthetic effect of diethyl ether is primarily due to its effect on the central nervous system, specifically, its interaction with the GABA receptor, the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system.

Historical Use in Anesthesia

Ether was first used as an anesthetic by the American physician Crawford Long in 1842, and its use spread rapidly thereafter. Ether anesthesia was administered using a piece of cloth soaked in ether, held over the patient's nose and mouth until unconsciousness was achieved.

However, ether is highly flammable, which posed a significant risk in operating rooms, which were often filled with open flames. Furthermore, ether anesthesia often caused nausea and vomiting in patients upon waking.

With the development of safer and more effective anesthetic agents, such as halothane in the 1950s, the use of ether as an anesthetic has largely been phased out in developed countries.

Current Uses

Although rarely used as an anesthetic today, diethyl ether is still used in laboratories as a solvent and in the production of other chemicals.

Safety

Given its high volatility and flammability, the use, storage, and disposal of diethyl ether require strict safety measures.

See Also

• Anesthesia
• Halothane
• Inhalation anesthetic
• GABA receptor

Pharmacodynamics