A simplified gas chromatographic method for quantifying the sevoflurane metabolite hexafluoroisopropanol

Background: The results of sevoflurane biotransformation (fluoromethyl- 1,1,1,3,3,3,-hexafluoro-2-propyl ether) to inorganic fluoride have been examined. However, these investigations have lacked a simplified assay for determining the primary organic metabolite, hexafluoroisopropanol. Previous attempts have involved extensive extraction steps, complicated derivatization techniques, or sophisticated detectors. Methods: After enzymatic hydrolysis of conjugates, hexafluoroisopropanol is detected readily using a head space gas chromatographic analysis with a flame ionization detector. Results: The gas chromatographic technique was linear from 10 to 800 μM with a correlation coefficient of 0.999. The detection limit was 10 μM in urine and 25 μM in blood. Conclusions: This simplified approach does not require the extraction, derivatization, or mass spectrometric detectors of previous methods. As sevoflurane utilization and research increases, this assay should allow for a variety of laboratory and clinical disposition studies to be performed.