Ion mobility spectrometry of halothane, enflurane, and isoflurane anesthetics in air and respired gases.

Three common gaseous anesthetics, halothane, enflurane, and isoflurane, were characterized by using ion mobility spectrometry (IMS)/mass spectrometry, and the dependence of product ion distributions on temperature and concentration was evaluated. At 40 degrees C and 500 ppb, negative ion mobility spectra in air largely consisted of monomer or dimer adducts with Br- or Cl- formed through dissociative electron capture of molecular neutrals. With increased temperature or decreased vapor concentrations, declustering and dissociation of product ions became pronounced. Ion-molecule reactions in the drift region of the IMS were evident as distortions in peak shape in the mass-resolved mobility spectra and in variable reduced mobilities for the same ions. A portable hand-held IMS was used for convenient, real-time detection of enflurane in respired gases following a controlled inhalation episode.