General Principles Flashcards
General Anesthesia
A state of unconsciousness produced by a process of controlled, reversible intoxication of the CNS, whereby the patient neither perceives nor recalls noxious (or other) stimuli.
Mechanism of action of anesthetics?
- largely unknown
- must be lipophilic to have action w/in CNS/cross BBB
- interaction w/ inhibitory pathways:
1. Gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) in BRAIN
2. Glycine in SPINAL CORD
Triad of general anesthesia?
- unconsciousness
- analgesia
- muscle relaxation
How to achieve the triad of general anesthesia?
- 1 drug can’t achieve all 3 unless high doses are used (resulting in undesirable side effects)
- administer COMBO OF DRUGS that more specifically provide each component
- allows SMALLER DOSES of each drug
Balanced (Multimodal) Anesthesia
Use of a number of different drugs to produce a state of general anesthesia, which fulfils criteria of unconsciousness, analgesia, and muscle relaxation.
Unconsciousness drugs?
Isoflurane, sevoflurane, propofol, alfaxalone, ketamine
Analgesia drugs?
Opioids, NSAIDs, local anesthetics, ketamine, alpha2 agonists
Muscle relaxation drugs?
Benzodiazepines, guaifenesin, alpha 2 agonists
- high doses of anesthetics reduce skeletal muscle tone
- use peripheral neuromuscular blocking agents if NO muscle tone is required (eye surgery)
- drugs which act on spinal cord to reduce muscle tone
talk about the depth of general anesthesia
- higher doses of anesthetic drugs lead to deeper brain depression (but overdose causes death)
- excess CNS depression causes suppression of reflexes associated w/ both autonomic & somatic systems
- responsible for ID’s when just enough drug has been administered for procedure
Reflexes associated with autonomic nervous system?
hemodynamic, respiratory, thermoregulatory (BAD)
How to identify when enough drug has been used for a procedure?
- Assess signs of CNS & ANS depression
- depth of anesthesia is DYNAMIC depending on procedure & drugs used
reflexes associated with the somatic nervous system?
proprioceptive reflexes & muscle relaxation (GOOD)
Stage 1 anesthesia?
voluntary excitement
stage 2 anesthesia?
involuntary excitement
Stage 3: plane 1 anesthesia?
light
stage 3: plane 2 anesthesia?
surgical depth (most procedures are performed at this level)
stage 3: plane 3 anesthesia?
deep (WARNING - stage 4 is close)
Stage 4 anesthesia?
Cardiopulmonary arrest imminent
How to monitor the autonomic nervous system and why?
- ID where anesthetic drugs influence ANS
- ID responses made by ANS to correct abnormal states & maintain homeostasis
- monitoring depth of anesthesia involves using ANS
- this knowledge allows for rapid decision making
Depressing the sympathetic nervous system causes what?
Muscle relaxation
3 effects of general anesthesia?
- CNS depression
- cardiovascular system depression
- respiratory depression
What are the signs of CNS depression?
- loss of consciousness
- dampening of reflexes
- central modulation of nociception
What dampening of reflexes occurs with CNS depression?
- cardiovascular -> hypotension
- respiratory -> hypoventilation
- thermoregulatory -> Hypothermia
- postural -> reduced muscle tone
What are the effects of cardiovascular system depression?
Overall effect is HYPOTENSION
- reflex (ex: baroreflex) suppression (centrally & peripherally)
- changes in autonomic balance
- changes in vasomotor tone (central & peripheral)
- myocardial depression
1. direct (drugs)
2. indirect (hypoxemia, hypercapnia)
What are the effects of respiratory depression?
Overall effect -> HYPOVENTILATION (hypercapnia/hypoxemia)
- reflex suppression (decreased ventilatory response to increased partial pressure of CO2, leading to decreased pH and partial pressure of oxygen)
- reduced muscle activity
- alveolar collapse/small airway closure (atelectasis)
- reduced functional residual capacity
- ventilation/perfusion mismatch
What is our main objective with general anesthesia?
To maintain tissue perfusion, w/ delivery of oxygen & removal of waste products
What happens if we fail in our main objective of general anesthesia?
patient morbidity & mortality increase
there are NO SAFE ANESTHETICS, only…
SAFE ANESTHETISTS
What is the mortality in dogs that are otherwise healthy?
1:2000
What is the mortality in cats that are otherwise healthy?
1:2500
What is the mortality in horses that are otherwise healthy?
1:100
What is the mortality in rabbits that are otherwise healthy?
1:100
What is the mortality in humans that are otherwise healthy?
1:300,000 in hospital
What is anesthetic risk closely linked to and how is it graded?
physical status; graded 1-5
What improves the outcome of anesthetic risk?
pre-anesthetic assessment, stabilization prior to anesthesia, and anticipation of complications. Do PE, BW, & get Hx.
ASA 1?
normal healthy patient
ASA 2?
Mild systemic disease - no functional limitations