Anaesthetics/Acute care Flashcards
What is seen on CXR with diaphragm rupture?
Indistinct hemidiaphragm
Bowel loops in thorax
Displacement of mediastinum
-> surgical repair
What is flail chest?
When chest wall disconnects from thoracic cage, usually due to multiple rib fracs
Assoc w pulmonary contusion
Abnormal chest movement
Avoid over-hydration/fluid overload
What is seen on CXR with aortic rupture from deceleration injury?
If no sign on CXR when should it be suspected?
What test then?
- widened mediastinum
- depression of bronchus/tracheal deviation
Presence of persistent hypotension - contained haematoma formation - but lung markings at peripheries (so not tension pneumo)
CT angio
Propofol:
- MOA?
- Onset?
- Positive extra effect?
- Negative effects?
- Main uses?
- GABA receptor agonist
- Rapid onset, rapidly metabolised with little accumulation
- Anti-emetic
- Myocardial depression, pain at IV site
- Maintaining sedation in ITU,, total IV anaesthesia and daycare surgery
Sodium Thiopentone:
- MOA
- Onset?
- Negative effects?
- Use?
- Useful for maintenance infusion?
- A type of barbiturate (potentiates GABAa)
- Rapid onset
- Metabolites build up quickly, marked myocardial depression, little analgesic effect
- Rapid sequence induction
- No
Ketamine:
- MOA?
- Positive effects?
- Negative effects?
- Uses?
- NMDA antagonist
- Strong analgesia, very little myocardial depression
- Nightmares
- Induction of anaesthesia and when haemodynamically unstable
Etomidate
- MOA?
- what is it useful in?
- Negative effects?
- Potentiates GABAa
- Safe in cardiac disease or haemodynamically stable
Negatives:
- No analgesia
- May cause adrenal suppression
- Post-op vomiting common
- Myoclonus
Why is end tidal CO2 measured in ET tube?
To ensure not in oesophagus
Why is humidified air used in tracheostomy?
Where is it widely used?
- dries secretions of throat
- ITU
What is commonly used for day surgery?
Is it suitable for high pressure ventilation (PEEP)?
Does it control gastric contents?
Laryngeal mask
Not suitable for PEEP
No control of gastric contents
What provides optimal airway management?
ET tube
What anaesthetic agent is hepatotoxic?
Halothane - should be avoided in hepatic dysfunction
What surgeries are guaranteed to have a high blood loss and require cross match 4-6 units? (6)
- Total gastrectomy
- Oophorectomy
- Oesophagectomy
- Elective AAA repair
- Cystectomy
- Hepatectomy
What surgeries require cross match 2 units blood as high likelihood of requiring transfusion? (2)
- Salpingectomy for ruptured ectopic
- THR
Adverse effects of volatile liquid anaesthetics?
- Myocardial suppression
- Malignant hyperthermia
- Halothane: hepatotoxic
Used for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia
Negative effects of NO anaesthetic?
When should it be avoided?
Uses?
May diffuse into gas-filled body compartments and increase pressure
Avoid in e.g. pneumothorax
Maintenance of anaesthesia and analgesia (labour)
Features of central lines?
Multiple lumens, so useful for multiple infusions
Lumens are narrow though so don’t allow fast rate of infusion
IJV preferred but slightly more difficult
Femoral easier access but more prone to infection
Where are intraosseous lines mostly used?
Paeds
When are tunnelled lines e.g. Hickmans used?
What actually are they?
Useful for patients requiring long-term therapeutics
Inserted into IJV and tunnelled under skin and anchored to tissues. Can have injection port under the skin
What is a PICC line?
Peripherally inserted central cannula
Popular for establishing central venous access - inserted peripherally so less prone to major complications than conventional central lines
Problems with PVC’s?
Why are they good?
Unsuitable for administration of vasoactive drugs e.g. inotropes, or irritants e.g. TPN (except in very short term)
Wide lumen so good for rapid infusion
Size order of PVC’s smallest to largest?
Blue Pink Green Grey Orange
Lidocaine:
- MOA?
- drug interactions?
- toxicity?
Blocks Na channels in axons
B blockers, ciprofloxacin, phenytoin (as hepatic ally metabolised)
Toxicity: CNS overactivity ten depression, cardiac arrhythmias
Rx: IV 20% lipid emulsion
When is adrenaline CI to be added to local anaesthetic?
Why is it used?
- End arteries e.g. fingers
- Pt taking MAOI or tricyclic antidepressants
Prolongs duration of action and allows much higher doses
Presentation of malignant hyperthermia? Why does it happen? Causative agents? Ix? Rx?
- Hyperpyrexia and muscle rigidity following administration of anaesthetic
- AD inherited trait from Chr19 - causes excessive release of Ca2+ from sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle
- Halothane and suxamethonium
- CK raised
Contracture test with halothane and caffeine
Dantrolene (prevents Ca2+ release from SR)
(also happens with antipsychotics - may have similar aetiology)
When are nasopharyngeal airways useful for?
When can they not be used?
Pt having seizure - cannot use oropharyngeal
Well tolerated in low GCS
Basal skull fractures
When is suxamethonium contraindicated and why?
Penetrating eye injuries or acute close angle glaucoma - increases intra-ocular pressure
Example of a polarising NM blocker? MOA? Adverse effects? When is it used? Reversal?
Suxamethonium
Binds nicotinic Each receptors, causing persistent depolarisation of the motor end plate
Malignant hyperthermia
Transient hyperkalaemia
Fasciculations
Muscle relaxant of choice for rapid sequence induction
No reversal
Example of a non-depolarising NM blocker?
Adverse effect?
Reversal?
Rocuronium, atacurium
Hypotension
Neostigmine (Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor)
What is a paralytic ileus?
What else can cause it?
What is it important to check as these can contribute to it?
Pseudo-obstruction due to lack of peristalsis after surgery, especially involving the bowel
Chest infection, MI, stroke and AKI
Deranged electrolytes - K, Mg and PO4
(replace these IV as bowel not working)
What fluid is preferred post-op?
Who should be reviewed?
Hartmann’s or Ringer’s lactate
If urinary Na <20
If a patient is oedematous and hypovolaemic, what do you treat first?
Hypovolaemia
Then follow this by a negative balance of Na and water, monitored using Na in urine
What metabolic derangement can saline cause?
Hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis
Commonest causes of post-op pyrexia <5 days?
- Blood transfusion
- Cellulitis
- UTI
- Physiological systemic inflammatory reaction (usually within a day)
- Pulmonary atelectasis
Commonest causes of post-op pyrexia >5 days?
VTE
Pneumonia
Wound infection
Anastamotic leak
When to stop drinking before theatre?
Eating?
Stop drinking clear fluids 2 hours before
(water, fruit juice NO bits, coffee, tea NO milk, ice lollies all count)
Stop drinking non-clear fluids and eating 6 hours before
Rule of thumb for insulin?
If HbA1c <69 and minor procedures then usual insulin regime
If poorly controlled or fasting requires missing >1 meal then change to variable rate insulin
Metformin in surgery?
Only if taking 3 doses per day
Omit lunchtime dose on day of surgery
Sulfonylureas in surgery?
On day of surgery:
- if taking once daily, omit dose
- if taking twice daily, omit morning dose
DPP4 inhibitors in surgery?
No change
GLP1 analogues in surgery?
No change
SGLT2 inhibitors in surgery?
Omit on day of surgery
Once daily insulins in surgery (e.g. Lantus, Levemir)?
Reduce dose by 20% day before AND on day of surgery
Twice daily insulins in surgery (Novomix 30, Humulin M3)?
No change on day before
Half the usual morning dose, leave evening dose unchanged on day of surgery
Prep for carcinoid surgeries?
Octreotide
Prep for parathyroid surgery?
Methylene blue to identify gland
Prep for thyrotoxicosis surgery?
Lugols iodine or medical therapy
Prep for colonoscopy/bowel surgery?
Bowel prep (laxative) day before
What nerve is injured in axillary node clearance?
Long thoracic
What nerve can be injured in carotid endarterectomy?
Hypoglossal nerve
What surgery might cause SIADH and therefore hyponatraemia?
Neurosurgery
When should women stop taking contraceptive pill/HRT prior to surgery?
4 weeks
What pharmacological anticoagulation is preferred in patients with CKD?
unfractioned heparin
How long is anticoagulation needed for after:
- elective hip replacement?
- elective knee replacement?
Hip - 28 days
Knee - 14 days
What are the central veins?
Neck - internal jugular
Chest - subclavian or axillary
Groin - femoral
What biochemical problems does a paralytic ileus cause?
Hypovolaemia and electrolyte deficiency (low Na and K)
AKI can develop with high creatinine and urea
CRP may be high as well
Vomiting may occur but these changes are apparent before the vomiting
(presents with tachycardia, hypotension, tachypnoea, tense abdo but no guarding)
When is NG tube contraindicated?
Head injury - risk assoc with tube insertion
What is good about nasojejunal feed?
Is it safe after oesophageal/gastric surgery?
Avoids pooling of food in stomach (and risk of aspiration)
yes
How is feeding jejunostomy inserted?
Use?
Risks?
Surgically
Long term feeding after upper GI surgery
Tube displacement, peritubal leakage (and peritonitis)
How is a PEG tube inserted?
Endoscopically and percutaneously
Not possible in those who cannot undergo endoscopy (e.g. oesophagectomy)
Risks: aspiration, leakage at insertion site
When is TPN used?
Problem with infusion?
Long term risk?
Enteral feeding contraindicated
Phlebitic - central vein
Long term use assoc w fatty liver and deranged LFT’s
Principle of nutrition in surgery?
Want to use the most physiological method that is safe and possible
Can NG tube be used it pt is intubated?
Yes
Nutrition choice if loop ileostomy?
Normal oral nutrition
If a patient is on prednisone long-term, what drug should be prescribed before surgery?
Hydrocortisone
Wind, water, wound, walking for post-op fever?
Any time?
Wind - day 1-2 - pneumonia, aspiration, PE
Water - day 3-5 - UTI (esp if catheterised)
Wound - day 5-7 - surgical site infection/abscess
Walking - day 5+ - DVT/PE
Any time - drugs, transfusion reactions, sepsis, line contamination
What can occur with intra-abdominal sepsis causing deranged LFT’s?
Portal vein thrombosis
What drugs impair healing?
NSAIDs
Steroids
Immunosuppressants
Anti-neoplastic drugs
How to tell difference between biliary leak and perforation after cholecystectomy?
Biliary leak:
- Severe RUQ pain and tenderness
- May be tachycardic, but is normotensive, no sepsis/peritonism, no pyrexia
- Some bile in intra-abdominal drain
Perforation:
- Severe RUQ pain, sepsis, systemically unwell
Where to avoid placing cannulas if diabetic?
Feet
What is suxamethonium apnoea?
AD inherited condition
Small subset of population lack specific acetylcholinesterase required to break down suxamethonium, meaning its effects are prolonged - need to be mechanically ventilated in ITU until it wears off