Local Anesthetics Flashcards
1884 Local anesthetics
cocaine introduced and used in ophthalmology and dentistry
Lidocaine synthesized in
• 1943- Lidocaine synthesized (amide)
First local anesthetic-
• Cocaine-
Gold standard of local anesthetics
Lidocaine
The fraction of drugs bound to proteins in plasma correlates with the
duration of local anesthetic activity:
Protein Binding from more to less
BERMeLPC
Bupivacaine> Etidocaine> Ropivicaine> Mepivacaine> Lidocaine> Procaine and 2-chloroprocaine
NO DIRECT relationship exists between
LA plasma protein-binding and binding to specific membrane-bound Na+ channels.
There is a direct correlation between
protein binding and lipid solubility, as there is for all drugs.
The MORE LIPID SOLUBLE THE DRUG, THE MORE LIKELY IT WILL
REMAIN IN THE LIPID-RICH ENVIRONMENT OF THE AXONAL MEMBRANE WHERE THE Na+
CHANNELS RESIDE!
Local anesthetics ; Water solublity
• Bases
• Poorly water soluble
LA are weak
Bases
When mixed with hydrochloric acid they
ionize and become water soluble (Hydrochloride)
Slows onset of action- LA must become
unionized to penetrate tissue
How does adding bicarbonate help LA
Alkalization of local anesthetic solution
• Shortens onset time
• Decreases pain on injection
• May cause precipitation of local anesthetic
Add NaHCO3. Will speed onset by how many minutes?
onset of peripheral nerve blocks & epidural blockade by 3- 5 minutes
Functional unit of peripheral nerves
Axons
• Extension of a centrally located neuron
Axon
cells surround each axon and function as support and insulation
Schwann cell-
•In unmyelinated nerves, single Schwann cells
cover
several axons
•In larger nerves the Schwann cell sheath covers ______and has several layers of lipid substance known as ________
covers only one axon and has several layers of a lipoid
substance known as myelin
• Small segments of nerve that do not contain any myelin
Nodes of Ranvier
Primary area where local anesthetics exert their action
Nodes of Ranvier
• Myelinated nerves
small vs large, impulse conduction
- Larger
- Conduct impulses faster
- More difficult to block with local anesthetics than unmyelinated
How many nodes of Ranvier must be blocked to prevent nerve conduction?
2-3 nodes of Ranvie
Structures found in peripheral nerves that contain bundles of axons
Fasciculi
Components of the peripheral nerve contain 3 layers of connective tissue
- Endoneurium
- Perineurium
- Epineurium
Act as barriers that local anesthetics must
penetrate in order to work
Layers (epineurium)
Resting peripheral nerves have a negative membrane potential of
-70 to -90 mV
Movement of K+ out of the cell leaves an
excess of negatively charged organic ions inside
Two opposing forces are at play(2)
• Net result is a modest movement of K+ out of the cell
Concentration gradient pushes K+
out of the cell while the negative charge
keeps K+ in the cell
This process is expressed by the
Nernst equation
• Sodium channels have 3 functional states
• Closed (resting)
• Open- nerve is stimulated and results in a conformational change in the proteins of the sodium channel
• Conformational change results in reversal of the membrane potential
Inactive
How does LA work?
Local anesthetics produce their effects by blocking the
sodium channels
Local anesthetics have a greater affinity for Na+
channels that are in the
open or inactive state
For LA to exert their actions they must
First penetrate the cell membrane before they produce these effects
For LA to exert their actions they must First penetrate the cell membrane before they produce these effects
This interaction is most likely the mechanism of
action of the drug _______which can only exist
in the uncharged form
benzocaine
What is the CM
- Lowest concentration of a drug that is needed for blocking impulse propagation
- Analogous to MAC
Variables that affect Cm: Increase Cm
Increased nerve fiber diameter
Increased myelination
Greater distance between nodes of Ranvier
Variables that affect Cm: DEcrease Cm
Increased tissue pH
High frequency of nerve stimulator
Pregnancy
Elevated temperature
• Three groups of nerve fibers
• A • Alpha • Beta • Gamma • Delta B C
• Most myelinated
• A-alpha
Fastest conduction velocity (60-120 m/s)
A-ALPHA
Responsible for skeletal muscle tone, reflexes
A-GAMMA
Responsible for pain, temperature & touch
A-Delta
Last blocked by local anesthetics
A-Alpha
Slowest conduction (0.5-2.3 m/s)
C-Fibers
Second fibers to be blocked along with A-delta fiber
C fibers
First then second blocked
B fibers
A-delta and C fibers
Conducts pain, temperature, touch, postganglionic sympathetic neurons
C fibers
Only UNMYELINATED fibers
C fibers
• Constitute preganglionic autonomic nerves
B Fibers
Proprioception, touch, pressure
A-Beta
• Largest 15-20 microns
A-alpha
• Motor and proprioception are the last to be blocked
(A-alpha, beta andGamma)
is currently the best example of a differential block
Bupivicaine
Epidural Bupivicaine 0.125%
blocks autonomics, partial pain, temperature but not touch, proprioception or motor function