Anesthesia / analgesia / sedation Flashcards
What are the different stages and planes of anesthetic depth
- Stage I = awake (can be sedated / obtunded)
- Stage II = excitement stage with spontaneous muscle movements
- Stage III = surgical stage
- Stage IV = extreme CNS depression, respiratory arrest, eventually cardiac arrest
Stage III divided into 4 planes based on pupils, eye position, jaw tone, etc: target is plane 2 (or 3)
What can be used to reverse opioids in case of dysphoria
Butorphanol 0.01-0.05 mg/kg titrated to effect
What is a possible side effect of flumazenil
Seizures (mostly in patients known for seizures)
What is the risk with use of PropoFlo 28 in cats
Contains benzyl alcohol (benzoic acid) which can be toxic to cats since they have a low liver glucuronic acid conjugation capacity
What sedative / anesthetic can cause adrenal insufficiency
Etomidate
What is a possible adverse effect of etomidate in cats
Hemolysis due to presence of propylene glycol
Which anesthetic agent can increase intra-ocular pressure
Ketamine
What is an induction dose of ketamine (when used in combination with another drug)
2-5 mg/kg IV
What anesthetic / sedative agents cause the most splenic relaxation and splenomegaly (and secondary Hct decrease)
Acepromazine, propofol, thiopental
What analgesic agent should be preferred in patients with liver failure / PSS
Remifentanil (no hepatic metabolism)
What are the classes of neuromuscular blocking agents
- Depolarizing agents: succinylcholine
- Non-depolarizing agents
- Benzylisoquinolinium agents (atracurium, cisatracurium, doxacurium)
- Aminosteroidal agents: rocuronium, vecuronium
What is a possible side affect of atracurium? What other benzylisoquinolinium agent can be used to avoid this?
Can cause histamine release
Cisatracurium is similar and doesn’t cause histamine release
What metabolism of atracurium and cisatracurium can cause hypotension? What patients are more at risk?
Laudanosine (can also cause seizures at high doses)
Patients with liver failure are more at risk due to decreased elimination
How can neuromuscular blocking agents be reversed
- Nondepolarizing agents can be reversed by acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (neostigmine) only if the amplitude of waved on train-of-four monitoring is at least 10% of baseline height
- Aminosteroidal agents specifically (rocuronium and vecuronium) can be reversed with sugammadex
What opioids can cause histamine release
Morphine and meperidine
What dose of naloxone can be used to reverse CNS depression caused by opioids while trying to keep some analgesia
0.004 mg/kg IV titrated to effect
What new molecule can reverse the cardiovascular effects of dexmedetomidine without affecting the sedative / analgesic effect
Vatinoxan (MK-467) = alpha2-antagonist that does not cross the blood brain barrier
What is the volume of drugs recommended for epidural administration in most cases?
0.2 mL/kg (0.1 mL/kg or 0.02-0.05 mL/kg/h when given in catheter) -> blocks until T13-L1
Larger volumes up to 0.4 mL/kg/h can be used cautiously to block more cranial ~T8-T10
What is the mechanism of action of depolarizing / non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents
- Depolarizing: agent binds to ACh receptor and activates it, leading to depolarizing (and initial contraction / fasciculation). The agent is not cleaved by acetylcholinesterase -> stays on the receptor and keeps it open -> persistent depolarization -> flaccid paralysis
- Non-depolarizing: agent binds to ACh receptor but does not activate it -> competition with ACh -> prevents depolarization
What neuromuscular blocking agents have the least cardiovascular effects
Rocuronium / vecuronium > cisatracurium > atracurium
What electrolytic disorder can succinylcholine theoretically cause
Hyperkalemia (due to persistent opening of Na / K channels allowing K efflux)
How is neuromuscular blockade monitored
By evoked motor responses to peripheral nerve stimulation (eg. train of four - not as reliable for depolarizing agents)
Adequate recovery of neuromuscular blockade when T4:T1 ratio is at least 0.7
With what neuromuscular blocking agent should anticholinesterases not be used
Depolarizing agents (succinylcholine) -> inhibits its degradation and prolongs its action
What is the epidural space delimited by
The dura mater (inside) and the boundaries of the vertebral canal = bones, ligaments (outside)