General Anesthetics Flashcards
What are the general anesthetics PRIMARILY used to do?
Induce and maintain unconciousness
What are the general anesthetics typically used to achieve?
- sedation
- skeletal muscle relaxation
- analgesia
What 2 other drugs are general anesthetics used with?
- anxiolytics
2. paralytics
What are the pharmacokinetics of general anesthetics?
- Absorption is fast - inhaled or IV, so straight to blood
- Metabolized by Liver
- Excreted by Kidney
How many stages of anesthesia are there?
4
What occurs in Stage 1?
Cerebral Cortex depression (euphoria)
unconsciousness
What occurs in Stage 2?
Cerebral Cortex totally depressed
Hypothalamus takes over causing increase blood pressure and heart rate
What is another name for Stage 2?
Excitement Phase
What occurs in Stage 3?
Hypothalamus is depressed and HR/BP normalize compared to stage 2 BUT depressed compared to normal
What is Stage 3?
The best stage to perform surgery/procedure
What is Stage 4?
Medullary Paralysis - OD - Death
What are the 3 systems affected by General Anesthetics?
- CNS
- Respiratory
- Cardiovascular
What happens to the CNS with General Anesthetics?
- sedation/hypnosis
- decreased cerebral blood flow
- decreased intracranial pressure
What happens to the Respiratory System with General Anesthetics?
- decrease in respiration rate
2. apnea - cessation of breath = DEATH (stage 4)
What happens to the Cardiovascular System with General Anesthetics?
- decrease in blood pressure
2. decrease in heart rate
