Induction and Maintenance Flashcards
What is the triad of anaesthesia?
- Hypnosis- unconsciousness (necessary component of GA)
- Analgesia- pain relief (removal of perception of unpleasant stimulus)
- Relaxation- muscle relaxation (provides immobility during surgery)
General anaesthetics (hypnotic, relaxant and analgesic)
Muscle relaxant (relaxants)
Analgesia (local, opiates)
What is a balanced anaesthesia?
Allows a great degree of control over the individual components of the triad of anaesthesia.
Various componentes: awake, analgesia, muscle relaxation, airway management
Why should ACEi be stopeped prior to surgery
Can cause severe hypotension after induction of GA
What are examples of intravenous anaesthetics?
- Propofol
- Thiopental sodium
What are adverse reactions to intravenous anaesthetics?
- Rapid onset of upper airway obstruction due to loss of muscle tone
- Respiratory depression and apnoea
- Bradycardia (propofol)
- Hypotension
- Propofol infusion syndrome (<16 years)
- Anaesthetic hangover - long period of drowsiness post anaesthetic
- Nausea, vomiting, headache
What are examples of inhaled anaesthetics?
- Isoflurane
- Sevoflurane
- Desflurane
What is an important contraindication to inhaled anaesthetic use?
Susceptibility to malignant hypertermia
What are adverse reactions to inhaled anaesthetics?
- Respiratory depression
- Hypotension
- Arrhythmias
- Mucous membrane irritation leading to cough, breath-holding and laryngospasm (Isoflurane/Desflurane)
- Increased intracranial pressure - cerebral vasodilatation
- Uterine hypotonia
What are examples of non-depolarising neuromuscular blocking drugs?
- Atracurium
- Mivacurium
- Rocuronium
What is an example of a depolarising neuromuscular drug?
Suxamethonium
When are non-depolarising neuromuscular blocks contraindicated for use?
Allergy
When are depolarising neuromuscular blocks contraindicated for use?
- Family history of malignant hyperthermia
- Severe burns
- Numerous neuromuscular contraindications including spinal cord injury and dystrophia myotonica
How do non-depolarising NM blocks work?
Act as competitive antagonists of the acetycholine channels of the motor end plate. The drugs bind the channel and stop ACh from binding and opening the channel to Na+, preventing action potentials in the muscle fibres
How do depolarising NM blocks work?
Act as acetylcholine agonists on the ACh channels of the motor end-plate. Their binding results in the continuous production of action potentials until exhaustion of the cell’s ability to repolarise occurs, causing neuromuscular paralysis
Suxamethonium is rapidly broken down by plasma cholinesterase, once this has happened repolarisation again becomes possible and neuromuscular function returns.
What are adverse reactions to non-depolarising NM blocks?
- Histamine release (atracurium / mivacurium)
- Allergy
What are adverse reactions to suxamethonium?
- Hyperkalaemia
- Malignant hyperthermia
- Prolonged paralysis (cholinesterase deficiency)
- Post-operative muscle pains
What are the general levels of sedation?
- Minimal sedation
- Moderate sedation
- Deep sedation
- General anaesthesia
What does minimal sedation mean?
Drug-induced state where the patient is still able to respond to speech. Cognitive function and coordination are impaired but ABC are unaffected
What does moderate sedation mean?
Conscious sedation
Drug-induced reduction of consciousness during which the patient is able to make a purposeful response to voice or light touch. At this level of sedation, no airway adjuncts are required, and B and CVS function should be adequate
What does deep sedation mean?
Drug-induced reduction in consciousness to a point where the paitent cannot be easily roused but does respond purposefully to painful stimuli. At this level, airway intervention may be required, with spontaneous ventilation becoming inadequate