Anaesthetics Flashcards
What are the normal ranges for sodium and potassium in the blood and why is there such a difference?
Sodium: 135-145mmol/L
Potassium: 3.5-5.0mmol/L
Sodium mostly exists in the extracellular compartment (ECF and blood), potassium mostly exists in the intracellular compartment
What are the daily requirements of water, sodium and potassium?
WATER: 30-40ml/kg (approx 2-3L for average adult)
SODIUM: 1-2mmol/kg (approx 70-140mmol/L for average adult)
POTASSIUM: 0.5-1/0mmol/kg (approx 35-70mmol/L for average adult)
***these are the sorts of levels we should aim for when prescribing MAINTENANCE FLUIDS
What kinds of things cause FLUID LOSS?
Poor oral intake (elderly, dysphagia, unconsciousness, fasting NBM) Increased requirements (Trauma, burns, post-operative) Increased loss (fever, sweating, bleeding, D&V, renal loss)
How do we classify fluid loss?
As mild, moderate or severe
MILD
- 4% body weight, loss of skin turgor and dry mucus membranes
MODERATE
- 5-8% body weight, oliguria, tachycardia and hypotension
SEVERE
- >8% body weight, profound oliguria and CVS collapse
What are some crystalloids and what are some examples?
They are water soluble substances dissolved in solution. They can be rapidly administered but can cause pulmonary oedema
NaCl 0.9%
Dextrose
Haartmans
What is in NaCl and what are some risks?
(0.9% mean 9g in 100ml) - contains 154mmol/L Na and 154mmol/L Cl
So about the right amount of sodium but there is a risk of hyperchloraemic acidosis
What is in dextrose and when should it be used?
5% = 50g per L water
Good if people have glucose requirements
What is in Haartman’s and what are some benefits of using it?
Na - 131 Cl - 111 K - 5 Ca 2 Lactate 29
this is much more isotonic and the patient is at less risk of becoming hypokalaemia
What are some examples of colloids? Where are they sometimes used?
Gelfusin Voluven Volulyte Albumin Sometimes used in trauma but rarely elsewhere
What is a fluid challenge?
Getting IV access with a wide bore cannula and administering 250-500mL of fluid as quickly as possible (usually 10-15mins) and monitoring for a response (BP, HR, UOP, JVP)
If an unwell patient hasn’t improved after 3 fluid challenges then need senior support
What is an example of a good maintenance fluid regimen in a 70kg man?
0.9% NaCl + 40mmol K over 8 hours
5% dextrose + 20mmol K over 8 hours
5% dextrose + 20mmol K over 8 hours
Why will people need more than just maintenance fluid after surgery?
People loose fluids during surgery (on average 600-900mL) so they will need some extra fluids before they’re placed on a maintenance regime
How do you manage fluid therapy in fever?
Add 10% extra fluids for every degree of fever
What should you ask in the history section of a pre-operative assessment?
Current illness (health in the past 2 weeks, any new problems or infections)
Exercise tolerance
Symptoms of apnoea (snoring, tired throughout day, headache)
ONGOING medical conditions and how well controlled
Anaesthetic history (personal and family)
Drug hx and allergies
What ongoing medical conditions in particular should you ask about during anaesthetic history?
IHD, diabetes, HTN, asthma, COPD, liver or kidney disease. Always ask how well controlled these are
What should you examine in a pre-operative assessment?
Neck movement, jaw opening and dental health (dentures, caps, crowns or loose teeth)
Mallampati
General examination (listen to heart and chest, feel abdomen, feel peripheries, feel calves for swelling or tenderness)
What is the mallampati score?
I - complete visualisation of soft palate
II - Complete visualise of uvula
III - Can only see base of uvula
IV - Cannot see soft palate
What is the ASA-GRADING for surgery?
1 - completely safe no ongoing disease
2 - Chronic disease but with no functional impairment (e.g. well controlled diabetes, HTN or smoker)
3 - Severe chronic disease with functional impairment e.g. angina or COPD
4- Severe angina, ESRD or liver disease
5 - Moribund patient who is unlikely to survive with or without operation
6 - Brainstem dead patient for transplant
What are the surgical grades for the operation?
1 (minor) - skin excision or toenail removal
2 (intermediate) - hernia repair or tonsillectomy
3 (major) - hysterectomy or thyroidectomy
4 (major+) - C/S, joint replacement, thoracic operational or radical dissection
What investigations does EVERYONE get in pre-operative assessment?
FBC, U&E, clotting and and group and save
What are some extra investigations for specific things in pre-operative assessment?
LFTs for liver or billiard op
Sickle cell screen for Afro-Caribbean patients
TFTs if they’re on thyroxine
CXR if ICU care might be required
Echo if they’ve got valve problem or murmur
Spirometry if lung disease
What must you correct before the operation if found to be abnormal?
INR (with vit K or platelets/FPP/cryoprecipitate)
Anaemia
What is the general rule for stopping medications before an operation?
In general omit on the day of operation and resume the day after
What more specific medications must be stopped before operation?
Warfarin - stop 5 days before DOACs - stop 24h before LMWH - stop 48h before Aspirin/clopidogrel - stop 7 days before Insulin - don't have morning dose Oral hypoglycaemic - avoid on day of op Diuretics/ACE-is - avoid on day of Long-term steroids - consider switch to hydrocortisone COCP - stop 4 weeks before
What are the fasting guidelines before an operation?
No food for 6 hours before (have dinner nil else)
No milk for 4 hours before
Only clear fluids until 2 hours before - NBM
How much oxygen can be given through nasal cannulas?
1-6L (most commonly 2L)
24-40% O2
How much oxygen can be given through a simple face mask (hudson)?
5-10L (CO2 can accumulate if the flow is less than 5L)
Not very reliable
What demonisations are there of venturi devices? In whom are they commonly used?
24, 28, 35, 40 and 60%
Good in CO2 retainers (COPD) to control concentration of O2
How much oxygen can be given through a non rebreathe mask?
15L and probably gives up to around 85% - this is about as good as we can get unless we artificially ventilate someone
What options do we have if the patient need assistance with ventilation?
BAG-VALVE MASK
NIV
ET tube or airway adjunct
What are some examples of NIV?
CPAP and BiPAP
CPAP pressure is continuous and BiPAP has different inspiratory and expiratory pressures
How do you measure a Gedell airway?
HARD to HARD
Angle of the mandible to the front incisors
What are the average sizes of NP tubes? When should they not be used
7mm for women
8mm for men
Do not use if any suspicion of basal skull fracture
What are some examples of supraglottic airways?
Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) and iGEL
When are LMAs preferably used and how do you insert an LMA?
Used in shorter surgeries when an ET tube is not required or if you cannot intubate someone (easier to put in)
NOT A DEFINITIVE AIRWAY
Reflexes should be suppressed e.g. with propofol then insert with the curve of the airway (no need to rotate)
What kind if airway is an ET tube? How are the sized
Definitive
Sized by diameter - 7-8mm for women, 8-9mm for men
What is the process of inserting an ET tube?
- preoxygenate the patient
- Wait for the neuromuscular blockage (90-120s)
- Place the patient in the sniffing the morning air position
- Hold laryngoscope in L hand
- Insert the laryngoscope in the R hand corner of the mouth and slide it down between the tongue and the epiglottis
- then lift with your whole arm up and to the left
- Aim to visualise the vocal cord
- Insert the tube to just beyond the vocal cords
- Inflate the cuff of the tube, attach to the bag valve mask and look for signs that it is in the right place
What signs are there that the ET tube is in the right place?
Rising of the chest (symmetrically, if it is not symmetrical it might have gone too far down the R main bronchus)
Misting of the tube
EtCO2 properly traced (5 clear traces)