Local Anesthetics Flashcards
What was the first local anesthetic? When was it developed?
Procaine (1905)
Clinical applications of local anesthetics:
- anesthesia
- analgesia
- acute and chronic pain management
- decrease perioperative stress
- improve perioperative outcomes
- treat cardiac dysrhythmias
- anti-inflammatory
List the sections of a peripheral nerve from innermost to outermost:
- endoneurium
- perineurium
- epineurium
Influx of which ion produces a neuronal action potential?
Na+
Influx of which ion generates the wave of depolarization down a nerve axon?
Na+
Resting membrane potential of a nerve:
-70mV
How many nodes of Ranvier must be blocked to reliably interrupt impulse propagation?
3
Define salutatory conduction:
in myelinated axons, the AP is conducted only at the nodes of Ranvier, skipping the distance between adjacent nodes
Describe how LAs work:
- reversibly bind to voltage-gated Na+ channels in the nerve’s axon
- no entrance of Na+ into the cell
- no depolarization
- no propagation of the AP down the axon
List the 3 other channels/receptors that local anesthetics block beyond their primary mechanism:
1) voltage-dependent K+ channels
2) L-type Ca2+ channels
3) some G-protein coupled receptors
During which states do LAs preferably bind to Na+ channels?
activated & inactivated state
Which portion of the LA diffuses through the skin/membrane? Which portion binds to the receptor in the Na+ channel?
- non-ionized/lipid soluble portion diffuses through the membrane
- ionized portion binds to the receptor inside the voltage-gated Na+ channel; this portion cannot penetrate the cell membrane
What is the order in which nerve fibers are blocked?
- B
- C
- A-delta
- A-gamma
- A-beta
- A-alpha
(Beer & Cheese AnD A Game Are Better than An Apple)
How does diameter of nerve fibers correlate to sensitivity?
smaller diameter = most sensitive (C fibers)
larger diameter = least sensitive (A-alpha fibers)
How does myelin affect sensitivity?
more myelin = less sensitive
What is the clinical order of loss of function?
Pain
Temperature
Touch
Proprioception
Skeletal muscle tone
(Pregnancy TEsts Take PRecise SKills)
Axon diameter is (inversely/proportional) to LA resistance.
proportional
Larger diameter = more resistance
Sensory & sympathetic nerves are blocked (first/last).
first
Motor nerves are blocked (first/last).
last
Define minimum effective concentration:
the minimum concentration of LA needed to produce a conduction block of an impulse
*different for different nerve fibers (larger fibers require higher concentrations)
How does tissue pH affect Cm?
- increased tissue pH –> decreased Cm
- decreased tissue pH –> increased Cm
(why a typical dose is less effective in acidic/infected tissue)
List bodily tissues from highest to lowest blood flow:
I Think I Can Please Everyone But Susie & Sally
Intravenous
Tracheal
Intercostal
Caudal
Paracervical
Epidural
Brachial plexus
Subarachnoid
Subcutaneous
How are ester LAs metabolized? Excreted?
- metabolized: plasma esterases
- excreted: renal
How are amide LAs metabolized? Excreted?
- metabolized: hepatic enzymes
- eliminated: renal
LAs are weak (acids/bases), which means they are (more/less) nonionized at physiologic pH.
- weak bases
- more nonionized at physiologic pH
When the pKa of a drug is closer to physiologic pH, more of the drug exists as…
lipid-soluble, uncharged, base
Compare the pKa, ionization, and onset of Lidocaine and Procaine:
Lidocaine
- pKa 7.9
- 3:1 ionized:unionized
- 2-3 min onset
Procaine
- pKa 8.9
- 32:1 ionized:unionized
- 6-12 min onset
How is onset related to pKa?
the closer the drug is to physiologic pH, the more of the drug exists in the unionized/active state and the faster it works
Which factors, in addition to pKa, affect onset?
dose & concentration
(higher dose/concentration = faster onset d/t more molecules given)
Which LA is an outlier when it comes to pKa and onset?
Choloroprocaine;
really high pKa so should have a slower onset BUT it is not very potent so a large dose must be given –> more molecules –> rapid onset
Describe how LAs work in infected tissue?
infected tissue has a lower pH; many LAs are bases and thus more ionized/less active at low pH; poor penetration of nerve tissue and less effective nerve block
How is potency related to lipid solubility?
More lipid soluble the drug, the easier it is to diffuse through the epineurium