Anaesthesia Flashcards
ASA* score is a subjective assessment of a patient’s overall health:
I Completely healthy, fit, patient.
II Mild systemic disease.
III Severe systemic disease that is not incapacitating.
IV Incapacitating disease that is a constant threat to life
V Not expected to live 24 hours
E. Emergency surgery, E is placed after the Roman numeral.
Premedication:
Prepares patient and provides optimum conditions for surgery/anaesthesia.
Relieves anxiety/ fear/ resistance to induction of anaesthesia.
MAC sparing / decrease amount of volatiles
Counters unwarranted side effects such as vomiting, salivation, bradycardia.
Contributes to peri -anaesthetic analgesia.
Tranquilizers and Sedatives
Phenothiazines
Butyrophenones
Benzodiazepines
Alpha 2 agonists
Opioids
Guaiphenesin (*Centrally acting muscle relaxants)
Phenothiazines:
Acepromazine
Acepromazine activity:
Dopamine receptor antagonism responsible for most of sedation properties.
Alpha1 adrenergic receptor antagonism mediates the vasodilation/decrease in blood pressure seen with acepromazine. This antagonism also at least partly responsible for decrease in thermoregulatory control.
Acepromazine
Dose rates:
SA & LA: 0.02-0.05 mg/kg
IV/ IM/ SC/ oral routes
List some phenothiazines:
Acepromazine
Perphenazine enanthate
Fluphenazine
Butyrophenones:
Primary action dopamine antagonist
Azaperone - pigs
Fluanisone/ Droperidol
Benzodiazepines
GABA receptor within CNS - primary inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Diazepam and Midazolam (most common)
- Zolazepam
- Zolitil (wildlife)
- Climazolam
Diazepam
Poorly water soluble
Painful injection especially IM
Unreliable sedation as a sole agent in fit and healthy individuals (not recommended).
Effective in sick or older patients and can be used in foals (0.2 mg/kg) to achieve recumbency.
CV and respiratory parameters well maintained.
Main role in anaesthesia in combination with drugs such as ketamine/ tiletamine (reduces excitatory effects and provides muscle relaxation). Reduces MAC.
Ant- convulsant
Midazolam
Water soluble, effective - well tolerated as IM injection
Shorter acting than diazepam
metabolised in the liver
Unpredictable sedative (agitation and excitement in SAs and ataxia in horses).
Co-administered with other agents (ketamine) and to reduce the dosages of induction agents (alphaxalone/propofol).
Use in triple drip formulations in horses with xylazine (alpha 2 agonist) and ketamine as an alternative to guaiphenesin
Dissociative anaesthetics + Benzodiazepine used for wildlife:
Zoletil
(Tiletamine combined with Zolazepam)
Anticholinergic agents
Use to block the effects of acetylcholine (muscarinic receptors) at parasympathetic postganglionic nerve endings.
Atropine and glycopyrrolate are the most widely used.
Main beneficial actions include treatment of anaesthetic induced (opioid) bradycardia, excessive salivation and respiratory secretions and blockage of vasovagal reflexes.
Alpha 2 (adrenergic receptor)
agonists
Xylazine, Detomidine, Medetomidine,
Dexmedetomidine, Romifidine.
Alpha 2 receptors are widespread throughout the body, in neural tissue, organs, vascular tissue and platelets = variety of ± effects
Alpha 2 agonists
Mode of action:
Central sedation effects caused by binding of presynaptic ∝ 2 receptors
(negative feedback loop)
Analgesia from binding of receptors centrally and within dorsal horn of the spinal cord (pre- and postsynaptic)
alpha 2 agonists have some impact at ∝1 receptors
Clinical aspects of alpha 2 drugs:
Bradycardia, initially a reflex baroreceptor response to peripheral induced vasoconstriction (↑ SVR) but major reason is suppression of CV centre and decreased sympathetic drive.
GI motility is reduced
Urine production increases (central inhibition of ADH)
Reduced renin and insulin secretions → hyperglycaemia
Potential for reversal
Opioid
Receptor types and MOA:
mu(µ), kappa(K) and delta(𝛿).
G protein coupled receptors, closure of Ca2+ gated channels, cellular hyperpolarization and reduced cAMP production= inhibition of neurotransmitters
Reversal possible = naloxone
List of Opioids:
Buprenorphine
Butorphanol (poor analgesic)
Fentanyl
Methadone
Guaifenesin
Centrally acting muscle relaxant
Interferes with polysynaptic transmission
No analgesia
Largely replaced by benzodiazepines
Injectable (induction) anaesthetic
agents (list):
Barbiturates
Propofol
Alfaxalone
Ketamine or Tiletamine
Barbiturates
Phenobarbitol
thiopental, and methohexital
long acting and anticonvulsant
All exert their effects at the GABA receptor
Respiratory depressants with poor analgesia
Metabolised via the liver
Thiopental/ thiopentone
Short-acting barbiturate
Perivascular injections - irritable, significant tissue damage.
Hypovolaemic states lead to reduced redistribution= ↑ clinical effect.
Poor analgesic
(Beware use in neonates, caesarean section, Sighthounds)
Propofol
Anaesthesia/hypnosis occurs
Rapidly metabolised by the liver
Dose-dependent CV and respiratory depression
Poor analgesia
I/V induction agent of choice in humans
Steroid anaesthetics
Alfaxalone
Rapidly metabolised in the liver, short acting, non cumulative
Suitable as total IV anaesthesia
Premedicated:
dogs, 2mg/kg, I/V (slowly)
cats up to 5mg/kg
Can be used as CRI, beware of respiratory depression= ventilatory support
Dissociative agents
MOA:
Ketamine/ Tiletamine
Non competitive antagonists at the NMDA - receptor preventing the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate from binding.
Cataleptic or dissociated state, complete analgesia - superficial sleep. Many reflexes are maintained (pharyngeal/ laryngeal), hypertonus is present, eyes remain open.
Dissociative agents need complementary drugs to ameliorate these side effects and to improve muscle relaxation.
Ketamine/ Tiletamine
Metabolised by:
CV effects:
NS effects:
1: liver, excreted via the kidneys
2: CV is usually well maintained
indirect sympathomimetic action, ↑HR and myocardial O2 consumption.
Beware in certain patients with severe CV disease i.e. cardiomyopathies
3: ↑ CBF and ICP, avoid in seizuring patients/ head trauma
Volatile agents/ Inhalational agents
Halothane
Isoflurane
Sevoflurane
Desflurane
Nitrous Oxide - (most analgesia)
MAC:
Minimum Alveolar Concentration (MAC), a measurement of the
relative potencies of inhalational agents and can guide in the
concentration required for a given clinical situation.
MAC is reduced by:
Other drugs, premedications, N20
Age, neonates and geriatrics
Hypothermia
Pregnancy (progesterone)
Disease processes, hyponatraemia
Arterial BP < 50 mmHg
PaO2 <40mmHg
PaCO2 > 95mmHg
ET tube sizing:
weight/4 + 4 = ET tube size
e.g. 20kg/4 = (4) + 4 = 9
Inhalationals: Mode of Action
Likely to be multiple sites within the CNS (both brain and spinal cord)
Some potentiation of inhibitory GABA receptors likely as well as
inhibition of NMDA receptors
Isoflurane
Halogenated ether
High volatility and relatively low solubility in blood and tissues, means relatively quick inductions and recoveries
Dose dependent depression of CV system BP↓ SVR↓ but little cardiac depression and HR is maintained (at MAC levels). CO and blood flow largely preserved.
Respiratory depression significant. Ventilation recommended especially in horses.
Poor analgesia, moderate muscle relaxation.
Less than 1% metabolised.
What are the 3 H (common anaesthetic complications):
Hypotension
Hypothermia
Hypoventilation
Blood pressure = CO x SVR
SAP 125 – 160mmHg
MAP 90 – 110mmHg
DAP 75 – 95mmHg
Intervention is required if the MAP is:
< 60-65mm Hg; SAP < 90mmHg
Spey clinic surgical fluid rate =
5mg/kg/h
Hypotension with possible hypovolemia treatment:
Assess fluid responsiveness:
Administer test bolus 5-10ml/kg of isotonic crystalloids over 5-10 minutes.
if improves/resolves consider increasing fluid rate.
Hypotension without hypovolemia - treatment:
MAC-sparing analgesia bolus or CRI and reduce isoflurane
Commence dopamine CRI (5-15ug/kg/min)
Hypotension with bradycardia treatment:
Administer anticholinergic -
Atropine 0.02-0.04mg/kg IV
Hypoxaemia = PaO2
?mmHg
<60mmHg
Types of heat loss:
Convection - heat transfer from body surface to air or water moving past the animal. E.g. laminar air flow from cooling or heat loss from blood inside vessels
Conduction – heat transfer across a surface. E.g. patient in contact with surgical table
Evaporation – moisture in contact with skin or respiratory tract dissipates into air. E.g. open body cavity
Radiation – exchange of heat between body & objects in environment that are NOT in contact with skin.