Emergence from anaesthesia Flashcards
Define slow/failed recovery
A patient with slow or failed recovery is someone in whom a progressive return of pre-operative function does not occur within the predicted time frame. It may include failure to:
Regain consciousness appropriately
Restore adequate ventilation or oxygenation
Sustain adequate cardiovascular function
Describe two high priority reversible causes of slow/failed recovery
Hyponatraemia in TURP
Hypoglycaemia in DM
Hypothermia after prolonged surgery
What device can help differentiate between central and peripheral causes
Peripheral nerve stimulator
What preoperative factors may suggest a cause for delayed recovery
Check anaesthetic chart: Patients usual medications - opioids - amitriptyline - anticonvulsant
Premedication
- Benzodiazepine
- Gabapentin
What intra-operative factors may cause slow/failed recovery
Length of anaesthesia
Intra-operative drugs
OPIOIDS - pinpoint pupils
- Rx incremental doses of naloxone: 0.1 - 0.2 mg
BENZOS
- Rx incremental doses of flumazenil: 0.1 mg (max 1 mg)
- may cause seizures, hypertension and dysrhythmias
Neuraxial/Nerve block
Which patients are at risk for hypoglycaemia
Children
Diabetics Recent alcohol consumption Malnourished Sepsis Liver failure Hypoadrenalism
Rx: 50 ml 50% dextrose
Why can hypothermia lead to delayed/failed recovery
All drug metabolism is temperature dependent –> hypothermia increases likelihood of residual drug effect
What are three effects of severe hypothermia relevant to anaesthesia
Can cause unconsciousness itself
Cogaulopathy
Shivering –> increases O2 consumption
Describe the presentation of incomplete NMBD reversal and the approach to resolving this?
HPT and tachycardia with poor power and co-ordination
Use peripheral nerve stimulator to confirm degree of block, bearing in mind that it is painful
Sedate/maintain anaesthesia until NMB is fully reversed
SUX apnoea –> ventilation may be required for many hours
Further dose of neostigmine + glycopyrrolate may be given as indicated by peripheral nerve stimulator
If incomplete reversal of NMBD is excluded, what is the next step
Full examination ? RSP cause: CXR/ABG ? CVS cause: cerebral hypoperfusion ? CNS cause: Intracranial event - CTB ? Metabolic: Acidosis/hypercapnoea - prolonged effects of NMB: ABG/UE/TFT
When can a diagnosis of “emergence phenomena” be made
In retrospect - diagnosis of exclusion
What is central anticholinergic syndrome
Associated with signs of peripheral anticholinergic activity
Blind as a bat,
dry as a bone,
full as a flask (can’t urinate),
hot as a hell
red as a beet,
mad as a hatter (concrete, easily describable, often Lilliputian hallucinations),
tacky (tachycardic) as a leisure suit (pink flamingo); phantom behaviors (“woolgathering”)
Describe how the patient/surgery/polypharmacy interact to potentially cause delayed recover by affecting the pharmacokinetics of the drugs
Absorption
Distribution
Metabolism
Excretion
Metabolism and excretion
- SUX apnoea (homozygous atypical plasma cholinesterase)
- Renal/hepatic impairment
- Hypothermia
- Hypovolaemia
- Acidosis
All impair metabolism and excreiton of many drugs but mainly opioids and NMBDs
Distribution and excretion
- Prolonged surgery: inhalational agents will accumulate in tissues delaying their excretion
Describe how the patient/surgery/polypharmacy interact to potentially cause delayed recover by affecting the pharmacodynamics of the drugs
Wide range of sensitivity to different drugs especially opioids and especially elderly
Combined drugs can be synergistic –> prolonged action
How can local anaesthetics prolong recovery?
Directly:
1. High spinal/epidural –> hypotension/respiratory difficulty delaying recovery
- Interscalene nerve block may cause respiratory problems by anaesthesia of the phrenic nerve
Indirectly
Local anaesthetic systemic toxicity –? cardiac arrythmias/hypotension/CNS toxicity
Describe an approach to the causes of hypoventilation
Anatomical approach Brain 1. Loss of central drive - COPD/OSA - Intracranial pathology (CVA) - drug overdose (including local anaesthetic toxicity) - RICP
Airway
- Obstruction
Lungs
- COPD/Atalectasis/sputum plugging/BS/consolidation/ARDS
Muscles
- NMJ dysfunction: Incomplete NMBD reversal/myaesthenia gravis/muscle disorders
Chest wall
- Obesity: reduced compliance
- Pain
Describe the ‘other’ patient factors that can lead to delayed/failed recovery
There are 4 major areas to consider:
Endocrine
Hypoglycaemia
Hyperglycaemia
Hypothyroidism
Renal Hypokalaemia Uraemia Hyponatraemia Hypernataraemia Hypermagnesaemia
Hepatic
Failed drug metabolism
Hepatic encephalopathy
Metabolic
Hypothermia – this is very common and may also increase bleeding postoperatively
Acidosis
Which procedures are high risk for surgical causes of delayed/failed recovery?
Carotid endarterectomy
Neurosurgical
Thoracic
Name 5 drugs that caused prolonged effects of NMBDs
Volatile anaesthetics Diuretics CCB Aminoglycosides Lithium
Name 5 non-pharmacoological factors that prolong the effects of NMBDs
Hypokalemia and Hypermagnaesaemia (Hyperpolarization)
Hypothermia (reduced rate of metabolism)
Acidosis (donating proton to the tertiary amines –> increasing ionization and receptor affinity)
Myaesthenia gravis
Hepatic/renal insufficiency
Under which circumstances is the duration of depolarizing NMB prolonged
Atypical cholinesterase
Pregnancy
Liver disease
How is the duration of action of SUX affected in children
Duration of action is shorter in children
Describe the steps required for extubation
FIRST: A. Confirm neuromuscular function is adequate. This should be your first move. It is distressing for patients to emerge from anaesthesia while still partially paralyzed. Their respiratory function and ability to clear secretions will also be impaired.
SECOND: C. Stop anaesthetics drugs and give 100% oxygen. High flow oxygen (>6 L/min) will speed this process, but it still takes several minutes for washout of the inhaled anaesthetic agents to occur.
THIRD: E. Apply suction to the airway. Patients can’t swallow under anaesthesia. Saliva and other debris will accumulate in the mouth and pharynx and this could be inhaled during emergence. It’s best to do this before the patient is fully awake, to avoid biting on the suction device.
FOURTH: B. Ensure breathing is adequate. The ventilator should be turned off and the reservoir bag observed for the return of spontaneous respiration. Gentle assistance may be required by squeezing the bag manually.
FIFTH: D. Place patient in a suitable recovery position. As we shall see, there are several suitable positions, depending on the circumstances.
SIXTH: F. Assess wakefulness and ability to maintain airway. This is the final consideration. But remember, ‘every extubation is a trial of extubation’ and very occasionally reintubation will be necessary.
what are the two patterns of peripheral nerve stimulation than can detect ‘fade’
Train of four (TOF) Double burst (DB)
When can the NMB reversal agent be given?
TOF stimulus: at least 2 twitches
DB: one twitch
Why must there be some evidence of spontaneous return of neuromuscular transmission before giving reversal agents?
Attempts to reverse with more profound paralysis may be unsuccessful.