Anaesthetics: General Anaesthetic Agents & Induction/Maintenance Flashcards
What are the 3 main categories of anaesthesia?
1) General: making the patient unconscious
2) Regional: blocking feeling to an isolated area of the body (e.g., a limb)
3) Local
Purpose of fasting before a planned general anaesthetic?
Ensure empty stomach –> reduce risk of stomach contents refluxing into oropharynx (throat) –> reduce risk of aspiration into the trachea.
Gastric contents in the lungs creates an aggressive inflammatory response, causing pneumonitis (inflammation of the lung tissue).
When is the risk of aspiration highest during general anaesthesia?
Before and during intubation, and when they are extubated.
What does fasting for an operation typically include?
1) 6 hours of no food or feeds before the operation
2) 2 hours of no clear fluids (‘nil by mouth’)
What is ‘preoxygenation’ in surgery?
Before being put under a general anaesthetic, the patient will have a period of several minutes when they breathe 100% oxygen.
Purpose of preoxygenation prior to general anaesthetic?
This gives them a RESERVE of oxygen for the period between when they lose consciousness and are successfully intubated and ventilated (in case the anaesthetist has difficulty establishing the airway).
N.B. This step may need to be skipped when an emergency general anaesthetic is required.
Medications are given before the patient is put under a general anaesthetic.
What may these include?
1) Benzodiazepines (e.g. midazolam)
2) Opiates (e.g. fentanyl or alfentanyl)
3) Alpha-2-adrenergic agonists (e.g., clonidine)
Purpose of benzos prior to general anaesthetic?
To relax the muscles and reduce anxiety (also causes amnesia)
Purpose of opiates prior to general anaesthetic?
to reduce pain and reduce the hypertensive response to the laryngoscope
Purpose of alpha-2-adrenergic agonists prior to general anaesthetic?
Can help with sedation and pain
Give an example of an alpha-2-adrenergic agonist used prior to general anaesthetic
Clonidine
What is rapid sequence induction/intubation (RSI)?
Used to gain control over the airway as quicky and safely as possible where a patient is intubated in an EMERGENCY scenario and detailed pre-planning is not possible.
The procedure is designed to ensure successful intubation with an endotracheal tube as soon as possible after induction (when the patient is unconscious) to protect the airway.
Why is RSI more risky?
Ass the patient has often not been fasted (risk of aspiration), and the anaesthetist has not had the chance to plan for individual factors and potential problems (e.g., a difficult airway).
When is RSI used?
a) emergency scenario
b) non-emergency scenario where the airway needs to be secured quickly to avoid aspiration e.g. in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux or pregnancy.
What is the biggest concern during RSI?
Aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs.
How can the risk of aspiration be reduced in RSI?
1) Position bed so the patient is more upright to reduce reflux of contents up the oesophagus
2) Cricoid pressure (pressing down on the cricoid cartilage in the neck): can compress the oesophagus and prevent the stomach contents from refluxing into the pharynx
What should you be aware of regarding cricoid pressure in RSI?
This is somewhat controversial and should only be done by someone trained and experienced.
What is the triad of general anaesthesia?
1) Hyponosis
2) Muscle relaxation
3) Analgesia
Purpose of hypnotic agents in anaesthesia?
Used to make the patient unconscious.
How are hypnotic agents given?
IV or inhaled
What is the most commonly used IV hyponotic agent?
Propofol
What is the most commonly used inhaled hypnotic agent?
Sevoflurane
Give 4 options for IV hypnotic agents
1) Propofol
2) Ketamine
3) Thiopental sodium (less common)
4) Etomidate (rarely used)
Give 4 options for inhaled hypnotic agents
1) Sevoflurane
2) Desflurane (less favourable as bad for the environment)
3) Isoflurane (rarely used)
4) Nitrous oxide (combined with other anaesthetic medications – may be used for gas induction in children)
Sevoflurane, desflurane and isoflurane are volatile anaesthetic agents.
What does this mean?
Volatile agents are liquid at room temperature and need to be vaporised into a gas to be inhaled.
What device is used for iinhaled volatile agents?
Vaporiser devices
How do vaporiser devices work?
1) Liquid medication is poured into machine
2) Machine turns it into vapour and mixes it with air in a controlled way
3) During the anaesthesia, the concentration of the vaporised anaesthetic medication can be altered to control the depth of anaesthesia.
How will IV vs inhaled hyponotic agents commonly be used during operations?
Why?
IV medication will be used as an induction agent (to induce unconsciousness) –> are infused directly into the blood and so can quickly reach an effective concentration.
Inhaled medications will be used to maintain the general anaesthetic during the operation –> need to diffuse across the lung tissue and into the blood, where it takes a while for them to reach an effective concentration.
What does total IV anaesthesia (TIVA) involve?
Involves using an IV medication for induction and maintenance of the general anaesthetic.
What is the most commonly used agent for TIVA?
Propofol
Benefit of TIVA over inhaled options?
Can give a nicer recovery as they wake up compared with inhaled options.
How is propofol given?
IV
What is propofol?
A general anaesthetic
Indication for propofol?
1) induction agent
2) intensive care for ventilated patients
Mechanism of propofol?
1) Decreases the rate of dissociation of GABA from its receptor
2) Which increases the duration of the GABA-activated opening of the chloride channel
3) Leads to hyperpolarisation of cell membranes
4) Increased inhibitory tone in the central nervous system.
2 key adverse effects of propofol?
1) Pain on injection
2) Hypotension (marked drop in BP)
Why can propofol cause pain on injection?
Due to activation of the pain receptor TRPA1
Who is propofol useful in?
Patients with high risk of post-op vomiting –> due to anti-emetic effects.
What is thiopental?
a general anaesthetic
How is thiopental given?
IV
Mechanism of thiopental?
A type of barbiturate.
1) Decreases neuronal activity
2) This decreases cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption
3) This decreases cerebrovascular response to carbon dioxide
4) This decreases intracranial pressure
Main side effect of thiopental?
Laryngospasm
Benefit of thiopental?
It is very lipid-soluble so affects the brain quickly i.e. mainly used for rapid sequence induction.
How do anaesthetic drugs typically work?
1) Bind to GABA receptor to potentiate the action of GABA (a major inhibitory neurotransmitter) –> this leads to the anaesthetic state of unconsciousness, muscle relaxation and analgesia.
2) Also work by opening K+ channels that modulate neuro-excitability –> this reduces membrane excitability.
3) Also inhibit opening of ligand-gated ion channels that allow Na+ to enter the cell.
Why does opening K+ channels cause anaesthetic effect?
Reduces membrane excitability –> will lead to more negative resting potential, making it more difficult to start an action potential.
What is etomidate?
General anaesthetic
How is etomidate given?
IV
Mechanism of etomidate?
Potentiates GABA
2 main side effects of etomidate?
1) Primary adrenal suppression (2ary to reversibly inhibiting 11β-hydroxylase)
2) Myoclonus
When is etomidate typically used? Why?
Typically used in cases of haemodynamic instability –> causes LESS hypotension than propofol and thiopental during induction.
I.e. mainly used in Cardiac patients Induction (Hemodynamic stability).
Mechanism of ketamine?
Blocks NMDA receptors (a receptor of glutamate: the primary excitatory neurotransmitter).
2 main adverse effects of ketamine in general anaesthesia?
1) disorientation
2) hallucination
Which general anaesthetic acts as a ‘dissociative anaesthetic’?
Ketamine
When is ketamine favoured as an anaesthetic? Why?
1) In patients with unknown medical history
2) In the treatment of burn victims
3) Trauma
As doesn’t cause a drop in blood pressure or depress breathing and circulation as much as other anesthetics.
Which general anaesthetic has a side effect of laryngospasm?
Thiopental
Which general anaesthetic has a side effect of pain on injection?
Propofol
Which general anaesthetic has a side effect of 1ary adrenal suppression?
Etomidate
Give 3 examples of volatile liquid anaesthetics
1) sevoflurane
2) isoflurane
3) desflurane
What are the 3 stages of a general anaesthetic?
1) induction
2) maintenance
3) emergency
Before a general anaesthetic, a comprehensive pre-operative assessment should be performed to determine anaesthetic drug choice and technique.
What should this include?
1) assessment of comorbidities
2) fasting status
3) airway assessment
What 4 essential steps should occur before the patient is brought to the operating theatre?
1) Pre-op visit and airway assessment by anaesthetist
2) Theatre team brief
3) Preparation of airway tray, emergency and induction drugs
4) Ventilator check
Upon entering the anaesthetic room/theatre, the patient will undergo safety checks and have essential monitoring attached.
This can vary according to the procedure, but at a minimum what does it include?
1) ECG
2) Blood pressure (NIBP)
3) Capnography
4) Anaesthetic depth monitoring
5) SpO2
What is the most commonly used device for maintaining an open airway during administration of anesthesia?
Supraglottic device i.e. laryngeal mask airway (LMA)
What are the 2 types of airway management of general anaesthesia?
1) Endotracheal tube (ET tube or ETT)
2) Supraglottic Airway (SGA) (E.g. Laryngeal Mask Airway)
Where is the SGA placed?
It is a plastic tube with a large cuff that is placed into the back of the throat and is positioned above the opening to the trachea (windpipe).
2 benefits of SGA over endotracheal tube?
1) Lower incidence of sore throat
2) Allows patient to easily breathe on their own
Contraindications to SGA?
1) Patients with higher risk of reflux e.g. those who have eaten within the previous 6-8 hours, pregnant women, and diabetic patients whose stomachs do not empty properly
2) Laparoscopic surgery
3) Surgery requiring careful control of breathing – includes brain, cardiac and thoracic/chest procedures
4) Prone positioning (surgery performed with the patient lying on their stomach)
5) Surgery in the nose or mouth
6) Obesity
Why is SGA contraindicated in patients with higher risk of reflux?
The SGA sits above the opening to the trachea sogases may also be delivered to the stomach via the oesophagus, particularly if the patient is being ventilated (the anesthesiologist is providing breaths for the patient) via the SGA.
This means that anything that is regurgitated could potential go into the lungs –> risk of aspiration.
Why is SGA contraindicated in prone positioning (surgery performed with the patient lying on their stomach)?
makes it very difficult or impossible to adjust or replace the SGA if it gets dislodged.