Inhalational anaesthetics Flashcards
Define MAC
The minimum alveolar concentration of an inhalational anaesthetic that prevents reaction to a standard surgical stimulus in 50% of subjects at 1 atmosphere (equivalent to ED50)
A measure of inhalational potency
List the factors that increase MAC (8)
- Infancy
- Hyperthermia
- Hyperthyroid
- Catecholamines/Sympathomimetics
- Chronic opioid use
- Chronic EtOH
- Acute amphetamine use
- Hypernatraemia
List the factors that decrease MAC (11)
- Increasing age
- Pregnancy
- Hypotension
- Hypothermia
- Hypothyroid
- a2-agonists
- Sedatives
- Acute opioid use
- Acute EtOH
- Chronic amphetamine use
- Lithium
List the factors that effect delivery of inhaled anaesthetic from machine to alveolus
Inspired partial pressure - faster rise in alveolar partial P, faster induction
Alveolar ventilation (lung wash in)
FRC - large FRC -> dilutes agent -> dec onset (Va:FRC ratio)
Characteristics of the anaesthetic circuit - Fresh gas flow, solubility of the agent in circuit components, volume of the circuit
List the factors that effect uptake of inhaled anaesthetics from alveoli to blood
Blood:gas partition coefficient (solubility)
Cardiac output (greater effect in highly soluble gases)
Alveolar to venous partial pressure difference (tissue uptake)
List the factors that effect transfer of inhaled anaesthetics from arterial blood to brain/tissue
Tissue:blood partition coefficient (measure of fat solubility)
Tissue blood flow
Arterial to tissue partial pressure difference
Define critical temperature
The temperature above which a gas cannot be liquefied regardless of the pressure applied
Define pseudo-critical temperature
The critical temperature of a mixture of gases
For Entonox, it is the temperature at which Oxygen and Nitrous Oxide laminate
Define a vapour
A substance in its gaseous phase at a temperature below its critical temperature
Define a saturated vapour
A vapour which is in equilibrium with its own liquid
As many molecules returning to the liquid as there are escaping
Define saturated vapour pressure
The pressure exerted by the vapour which is in equilibrium with its own liquid
Dependent on temperature - the higher the temperature, the more molecules enter the vapour phase, the higher the SVP
Define boiling point
The temperature at which the vapour pressure of a liquid equals the environmental pressure surrounding the liquid
For all of the commonly used volatiles the boiling point is between 48-58’ (except Desflurane - 23.5)
What is Boyle’s law?
P.V = k at a constant temperature (pressure is inversely proportional to volume)
What is Charle’s law?
V = k.T at a constant pressure (Volume is directly proportional to temp)
What is the third gas law (Gay-Lussac’s law)?
P = k.T at a constant V (Pressure is directly proportional to temperature)