2 - Premeds and sedation Flashcards
Give the definition of premedication
The administration of medication before anaesthesia
What is an anxiolytic?
A drug that produces a mental calming effect characterised by reduced motor activity, anxiety and interest in the environment
What is a sedative?
A drug that produces a mental calming effect characterised by sleepiness as well as disinterest in the environment
What is narcosis
Sedation produced by opioid analgesics
What are the 3 aims of premedication?
And what do they aim to do
Anxiolysis - to reduce stress and anxiety
Analgesia
Anaesthetic dose sparing (to reduce the dose of induction and maintenance agents needed for GA)
They aim to make animals easier and safer to handle, smooth induction, maintenance and recovery phases of anaesthesia, help create muscle relaxation to facilitate surgery and prevent adverse effects
What are the desirable properties of premedication drugs?
- To reduce fear and anxiety
- Should be easy to administer by different routes and be permissible with other drugs
- Quick onset of action
- Reasonable duration of action
- Antagonisable (so we can reverse them)
- They should have a predictable, reliable and dose dependent sedative effect
- Have minimal cardiovascular and rep effects
- Be analgesic
What is the definition of neuroleptanalgesia?
Sedation achieved wit a combination of an opioid and sedative drug
Is the effect of neuroleptanalgesia additive or synergistic and what does this mean? and why?
Its synergistic so the effect of the combination of drugs is greater than the effect of the sum of the individual drugs - this is because we choose drugs that act at different receptors.
Is sedation safer than anaesthesia and why?
People often think so but the 2 are on a continuum of CNS depression.
The response of an individual can be unpredictable, if you aim for sedation you may accidently get anaesthesia.
So whenever you sedate you need to be prepped to provide oxygen and ventilation, the same way you would if going for GA
How should we monitor sedated patients in comparison to GA patients?
The same
When is procedural sedation appropriate?
In a healthy patient for a non painful procedure like diagnostic imaging OR a painful procedure when using LA.
When is procedural sedation not appropriate?
- In patients who cant compensate for cardiovascular effects of sedative drugs - like those with cardiac disease or hypovolaemia
- When there is the potential for unrecognised stress and or pain in a ‘locked in’ patient - like with some sedatives the sedation lasts longer than the analgesic effect so they may be sedated but in pain
- Patients at risk of airway complications (like obstruction or aspiration) e.g. brachycephalic dogs, and patients undergoing airway surgery or dentistry
Name 3 classes of drugs that can be used for neuroleptanalgesia
- Phenothiazine (acepromazine)
- Alpha 2 adrenoreceptor agonists
- Benzodiazepines
What drug class is acepromazine?
Phenothiazine
What are acepromazines mechanisms of action?
- A dopamine receptor antagonist
- An alpha 1 adrenoceptor antagonist
- A histamine (H1) blockade
- Its antithrombotic
How is acepromazine eliminated from the body
Its metabolised by hepatic metabolism
Renal and biliary excretion
How long is acepromazines onset?
30-40 mins
How long is acepromazines duration?
6-8 hours
What are the routes of administration for acepromazine?
IV, IM, PO
What are the 5 effects of acepromazine?
And what are these things a result of?
- Effects on CNS: sedation (which is a result of central dopamine receptor blockade)
- Cardiovascular effects: hypotension (due to peripheral alpha 1 receptor antagonism causing vasodilation) AND its antiarrhythmic (so reduces catecholamine induced arrhythmias)
- Its antiemetic (due t reduced dopamine activity in the chemoreceptor trigger zone)
- Antihistamine (its direct histamine 1 receptor antagonism makes it a mild antihistamine so its not a good sedative for intradermal skin testing)
- Haematological effects: reduced PCV ( due to sequestration of RBCs in the spleen) AND it causes reduced platelet count and function - but isnt associated with haemorrhage in normal patients, but should be avoided in those with platelet disorders
Why is acepromazine not a good sedative for intradermal skin testing?
Because its a mild antihistamine
What are the considerations of using acepromazine?
- Size - large breeds are more susceptible to its effects because its allometric scaling so we dose on body surface area rather than bodyweight
- It may reduce the seizure threshold, but its probs ok at clinical doses
- In boxers it causes syncope and fainting - probs vasovagal syncope
- It can cause aggression - its anxiolysis results in disinhibition so the animal may be more likely to attach you when its not anxious
Why is acepromazine significant in boxers and what is the solution to this?
It can cause syncope and fainting.
The solution is to avoid ACP or to give half the normal dose or to give the normal dose combined with an anticholinergic
What are the names of the alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonists and which species are they licenced in?
Medetomidine, dexmedetomidine (dogs and cats)
Detomidine, xylazine (cattle and horses)
Romifidine (horses)
What is the mechanism of action of the alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonists?
They are alpha 2 agonists and they have some alpha 1 agonism too.
How are alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonists eliminated from the body?
Hepatic metabolism
Renal excretion
How long is the onset of alpha 2s?
5 mins - but is dose and drug dependent
How long is the duration of action of alpha 2s?
30-180 mins but is dose and drug dependent
What are the routes of administration of alpha 2s?
IV, IM, transmucosal
What are the CNS effects of alpha 2 agonists?
Sedation (its profound and reliable) - this is a direct effect of the alpha 2 effects on the CNS
Analgesia
Muscle relaxation
Describe the cardiovascular effects of alpha 2 agonists
The effects are biphasic.
Phase 1: peripheral vasoconstriction –> hypertension –> reflex bradycardia
Phase 2: central alpha 2 actions –> reduced sympathetic tone –> normotension
The overall effect is: vasoconstriction, reduced cardiac output and occasional bradyarrhythmia’s.
Why shouldnt we treat bradyarrhythmias caused by drugs like anticholinergics?
Because the bradycardia is a defence mechanism so if you increase heart rate while the patient is still vasoconstricted you can cause fatal ventricular tachyarrhythmia.
What are some other effects of alpha 2 agonists (not including cardiovascular and CNS effects)?
Endocrine effects:
- Reduced ADH and renin –> leads to diuresis
- Reduced insulin –> gluconeogenesis –> increased blood glucose
- Reduced ACTH –> reduced cortisol
- Reduced catecholamines
Emesis - due to the direct alpha 2 effect at the chemoreceptor trigger zone.
Sweating (in horses)