The Minimum Alveolar Concentration (MAC) of Sevoflurane in Humans

Forty surgical patients were divided into two groups and anesthetized with either sevoflurane and oxygen or sevoflurane, oxygen, and nitrous oxide. The minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) for sevoflurane required to prevent movement in response to surgical incision in healthy patients was 1.71 +/- 0.07% (SE). The AD95 (anesthetic ED95) that prevented 95% of patients from moving was 2.07%. The addition of 63.5% end-tidal nitrous oxide allowed a reduction in the alveolar sevoflurane concentration to 0.66 +/- 0.06% (SE). The reduction in sevoflurane MAC was 61.4%. The AD95 for sevoflurane with 63.5% end-tidal nitrous oxide was 0.94%.