Considerations For Specific Conditions: Specific Surgeries/Traumas Flashcards
fWhat is the motor nerve terminal
Large nerve from the spinal cord carries impulses to the skeletal muscle. There are multiple nerve branches stimulating a vast number of nerve fibres which must be activated simultaneously for muscle contraction.
Where would you find the motor end plate?
At the neuromuscular junction, the post synaptic membrane is highly folded
Where would you find the most nicotinic ACh receptors ?
These are most concentrated on the shoulders of the folded post-junctional membrane
What happens when an ACh neurotransmitter is triggered?
Once triggered (when the impulse reaches travel down the nerve and depolarises the nerve terminal), it’s release from vesicles in the pre-synaptic membrane and crosses the junction to stimulate receptors on the post-synaptic membrane where it sets off an sectional potential and the muscle fibre contracts.
What is the synaptic cleft?
The gap between the nerve terminal and the motor end plate.
What happens to the ACh once it’s activated the post-synaptic receptors?
The ACh is rapidly hydrolysed by a cholinesterase enzyme. Its constituent parts (acetyl and choline) are recycled and taken back to the pre-synaptic membrane to form more ACh.
What is the difference between the 2 types of acetylcholine receptors: muscarinic and nicotinic?
Muscarinic AChR are involved in physiological functions (HR, force, contraction of smooth muscles and release of neurotransmitters).
NAChR are involved in either neuronal or muscle-type physiological processes. Muscle-types are localised at NMJ. Each NAChR consists of 5 glycoproteins: 2 alpha, 1 beta, 1 delta and 1 gamma. They are arranged in a cylinder with a pore in the centre. One ACh molecule must bind to the two alpha subunits simultaneously for channel activation to occur and pore to open.
When would we want to perform a neuromuscular blockade?
To facilitate intubation
To aid muscle relaxation for surgery
To facilitate PPV
To create a central eye for ophthalmic surgery
As part of a balanced anaesthesia
Simply, how to neuromuscular blocking drugs work?
The block or antagonise, the binding of ACh to NAchR
What are the two main types of neuromuscular blocking drugs?
Depolarising (one drug group: suxanethonium or succuinylcholine) and Non-depolarising (two groups: aminosteroids and benzylisoquinoliniums)
Describe the succinylcholine drug molecule and its action
Two ACh molecules back to back. When they bind to ACh receptors, they cause widespread muscle fasciculations, they then stay bound to the receptor and the channel remains open until it’s ready to disengage so remains flaccidly paralysed. It causes no fade and is non-competitive- it’s an agonist of the ACh receptor. It stays there until it’s broken down- it cannot be antagonised.
What problems are associated with succinylcholine?
- widespread muscle faciculations due to depolarising nature
- reported muscle pain afterwards in humans
- increases serum potassium (relaeased when muscle contracts)
- possible malignant hyperthermia trigger
- occasionally can cause histamine release
- muscles faciculations can cause increase in IOP, ICP and IAP
Describe non-depolarising drug molecules and how they work?
Large polar molecules with a positive end (N+ atom) and a negative end.
The positive atom binds with the alpha subunit and prevents ACh molecules binding (so they are an antagonist of this receptor). It’s a competitive block - only 75% of receptors need to be blocked to create muscle relaxation. Fade is present.
What is the difference between the two classes of non-depolarising neuromuscular blocking drugs.
Aminosteroids are accurate- short sticky molecules. Metabolised in the liver and likely to produce active metabolites. Dont cause histamine release.
Benzylisoquinoliniums are leptocurare molecules and are long and spindly. Probe to degradation and broken down by hydrolysis and enterases. Prone to causing histamine release.
Describe the characteristics of Pancuronium
- can cause tachycardia and hypertension
- no histamine release IV
- long half life
- 80% renal excretion- rest liver.
- active metabolites produced
Describe the characteristics of vecuronium
- dry powder reconsistitued with water
- no histamine release IV
- 40% renal excretion- rest liver
Describe the characteristics of rocuronium
- fast onset of action
- more CVS effects Than other aminosteroids
Describe the characteristics of atracurium
- contains 10 isomers
- can cause histamine release IV
- must be kept in the fridge
- 10% excreted in urine. 40% Hoffmann elimination. 50% plasma hydrolysis (broken down in the blood stream by non-specific enzymes)
Describe the characteristics of Cis-atracurium
- one of the active isomers of atracurium
- more potent than parent drug
- much less histamine release that atracurium
- mostly cleared by Hoffmanns elimination
Describe the characteristics of mivacurium
3 isomers (2active)
Wrong shape for hoffmans eliminations so broken down by hydrolysis and cholinesterase.
Histamine release IV
NO OTHER CARDIAC EFFECTS
What is hoffmans elimination
Spontaneous degradation in plasma and tissue at normal body oh and temperature
List the order of which skeletal muscles are blocked by NMblocking drugs in small animals
Facial expression muscles
Jaw muscles
Tail muscles
Neck and distal limbs
Proximal limbs
Swallowing
Abdominal muscles
Intercostal muscles
Diaphragm
How does the order of blocked skeletal muscles differ in horses and cows
Facial expression muscles are more resistant so further down the list
How does administration of a NMBlockade affect our anaesthetic?
Won’t be able to monitor Resp parameters (need manual ventilation)
Can’t monitor eye position or palpaebral reflex.
Can’t monitor jaw tone
Can’t see movement if patient light.
We need to use HR, BP, lacrimation and salivation.
How can we monitor a NMB itself?
Monitor for reflexes returning or ideally use a peripheral nerve stimulator
Where are the electrodes of a peripheral nerve stimulator placed?
There is a positive and negative electrode. The positive (often red) is placed proximal to the nerve.
What small animal peripheral nerves can we stimulate with a stimulator?
And in equine?
Facial, ulnar, peroneal
Facial and peroneal
What is fade
Fade is an unsustained tension in a muscle under non-dep NMB after a supramaximal stimulus. Usually seen as decreasing twitch heights.
What twitch patterns are available on a nerve stimulator
Single twitch (TW)
Tetanus stimulus (TET)
Double Burst Stimulus (DBS)
Train of four stimulus (TOF)
Why is a single twitch of limited use?
Wouldn’t see fade
How many twitches per second (Hz) in a tetanic stimulus?
50Hz
How many twitches in a double burst stimulus?
50 twitches per second, 750ms apart
How many twitches in a train of four?
2 twitches per second, over 2 seconds - most commonly used.
How can we check if a MNB is wearing off and what can we do to prolong it?
Should check twitches after 30mins has lapsed, every few minutes. If twitches return, the duration of the blockage can be prolonged same time again by administering half the original dose
How can we end NMB?
- Let it wear off naturally. Using the TOF ratio (the height of the fourth twitch compared to the full height of the first twitch). This ratio must be >0.9.
Or - Give drugs. For depolarising NMB, give exogenous plasma cholinesterase. For non-dep NMB give anti-cholinesterase.
How does giving an anti-cholinesterase help reverse a NMB?
Stops the acetylcholinesterase working so ACh isn’t broken down and you increase the concentration in the synaptic cleft so it competes with the non-dep drugs for receptors and helps recover. Must wait for twitches to return before giving as need some receptors free.
Care: increasing ACh will act on the muscarinic receptors as well as the desired NAChR! So you’ll see physiological effects such as bradycardia and bronchoconstriction. Often administer an anticholinergic alongside e.g atropine, glyco.
Describe the characteristics of the 2 common used anti cholinersterases
Neostigme- ++ muscarinic effects, + pre/ synaptic effects, + acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, ++ plasma cholinesterase inhibitor. Best suited with glyco and slower onset of action.
Edrophonium: +/- muscarinic effects, ++ pre-synaptic effects, ++ acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, - plasma cholinesterase inhibitor. Best suited with atropine and faster onset of action.
What is suggamadex? When is it used?
A sugar ring molecule reversal agent for rocuronium and vecuronium. It encapsulates the molecule and doesn’t have any muscarinic effects. And you don’t have to wait until twitches return to give it.
What is peep?
Positive end expiratory pressure. It keeps 3-20cmh2o in the alveoli so it doesn’t allow the lungs to empty to atmospheric pressure at the end of ventilation. Helps recruiting closed alveoli also- improves oxygenation and prevents atelectasis.
What powers ventilators
Electrical power or gas supply
Describe a mechanical thumb ventilator
Mechanical principle of the thumb closing the valve to deliver a breath.
Describe a bag in a bottle ventilator
Bellows may be squeezed pneumatically by placing it in a canister and feeding a gas into the space between. Or squeezed mechanically by a motor
What is a minute volume divider?
Ventilators that have pressurised gas fed into a reservoir bag that is continually pressurised by a spring or its own eleastic recoil. The patients minute volume is calculated and the dialled up as fgf. The ventilator then divides up the MV into tidal volumes
What ventilator settings should we start with?
RR 10-20 bpm
Inspiratory TV 10-15mls/kg
Maximum peak inpiratory pressure (20 in dog, 12in cat)
I:E ratio of minumum 1:2
What effects does mechanical ventilation have on BP?
Causes hypotension due to positive pressure in thorax reduces venous return by compressing vena cava.
Reduces pre-load and therefore will reduce CO and BP. More likely to happen if patient is hypovoleamic.
What effects can mechanical ventilation have on the renal system?
Inappropriate ADH release.
Kidneys recognise theres a drop in CO abd lowered renal blood flow, so the kidneys release ADH in response so the body retains water and reduces UO.
What effects does mechanical ventilation have on carbon dioxide levels?
Overzealous ventilation can cause hypocapnia which may result in respiratory alkalosis or cerebral vasoconstriction.
Hypoventilation may result in hypercapnia and respiratory acidosis and cerebral vasodilation.
How can mechanical ventilation cause oxygen toxicity?
If on 100% (>60%) o2 for more than 12 hours, exhaust the free radical scavengers which usually mop up the free oxygen radicals. This damages the alveolar basement membrane.
What can oxygen toxicity cause in a ventilated patient and what can we do to avoid it?
Tracheobronchitis and absoprtive atelectasis to alveolar damage.
If patient ventilated long-term, get o2 % to less than 60 whilst maintaining an spo2 of 95%
What is the formula for oxygen delivery
O2 delivery = CO x content of o2 in blood
Define CO
Volume of blood ejected from the heart in a minute
= HR X SV
How is O2 carried in the body?
97% carried bound to haemoglobin (SaO2)
3% carried dissolved in blood (PaO2)
What is the formula for calculating oxygen content of the blood (CaO2)?
CaO2= (1.34 x Hb x SaO2) + (PaO2 x 0.003)
1.34 is Hufners constant - indicated the theoretical maximum oxygen-carrying capacity e.g. 1.34ml of oxygen per 1g of Hb.
Hb concentration in blood can be measured by running haematology or blood gas.
0.003 is solubility co-efficient of oxygen in blood
What is the formula for MABP?
CO X SVR