Neuromuscular Blockers Flashcards
Name the depolarising (noncompetitive) blocker
Suxamethonium (scolene)
Ultra short acting
Name 7 contraindications to suxamethonium
- History or family history of malignant hyperthermia or Scoline apnea (pseudocholinesterase def )
- Hyperkalaemia in major trauma
- Severe burns. 24h - 9 months (hyperk)
- Muscular dystrophy (eg duchenne) and other myopathies
- Known hypersensitivity to suxamethonium
- Muscle degeneration as in paraplegia or severe chronic sepsis
- Acute narrow angle glaucoma or penetrating eye injuries (increase IOP )
- Demyelinating injuries 48h - 9 months
What is the moa of Scoline?
Depolarising (noncompetitive) blocker that initially activates (agonist) acetylcholine receptors causing depolarisation, but in doing so block further activation. Repeated administration results in drug action becoming more characteristic of nondepolarising drugs (phase 2 ) by receptor desensitisation.
Agonism of post synaptic nicotinic acetylcholine Rs lead to sodium influx, potassium efflux, remains bound longer, preventing repolarisation or binding of Ach thus no propagation of action potential.
Binds to 2 units of nachR so also called diacetylcholine
Not broken down by acetylcholinesterase but by pseudocholinesterase in plasma.
What is the benefit of using depolarising over nondepolarising postsynaptic neuromuscular blockers? (3)
• Rapid onset (30-60S)
• short duration of action ( 5 to 10 minutes)
• broken down by pseudocholinesterase (not acetylcholinesterase as with non depolarisers) so result in prolonged blockade at the muscle end plate.
Name 10 adverse effects or complications of suxamethonium
- Myalgia! or even fractures post-op due to initial spasms /fasciculation’s pre-paralysis
- Masseter spasm (can be warning of malignant hyperthermia )
- Increase intraocular, intracranial and intragastic pressure due to fasciculation’s
- Anaphylaxis, bronchospasms (histamine release)
- Av node dysrhythmias- ventricular arrhythmia
- Bradycardia due to muscarinic receptor activation. Can be prevented by giving atropine.
- Hyperkalaemia due to potassium release from muscle (foetal type Nachr)
8.scolene apnea - Malignant Hyperthermia
- Secretions ( muscarinic side effect)
What causes scoline apnea? (And mivacurium apnea)
Inherited disorder (autosomal recessive) of pseudocholinesterase resulting in decreased metabolism of suxamethonium resulting in prolonged paralysis.
Variations: heterozygous 30-60 min, homozygous 3-6 hours
What is malignant hyperthermia and pathophysiology?
Rare Genetic (chromosome 17 aut dom or king-denborough syndrome aut recessive ) hypermetabolic disease triggered by exposure to inhalational agents and suxamethonium. Caused by defect in receptor on endoplasmic reticulum called the ryanodine receptor (RYR 1) (calcium channel r), causing it to stay open and flood cell with calcium with resultant persistent contractile state.
Increase use ATP, ATP demand exceeds supply, multi organ failure and death.
Exertion, heat stroke and porcine stress syndrome trigger it.
Name 6 early signs of malignant hyperthermia
- Masseter spasm
- Generalized muscular rigidity! (Specific sign)
- Tachycardia!
- Hypercapnia (specific and first sign)
- Hypoxia
- Combined metabolic respiratory acidosis
Name 6 late signs of malignant hyperthermia
- Hyperthermia >38 (specific sign)
- Rhabdomyolysis (specific sign)
- Acute renal failure
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Hypotension
- Circulatory failure
Increased serum creatine phosphate and serum myoglobin!
What is the antidote for malignant hyperthermia?
Dantrolene 2.5 mg/kg max 10mg/kg/24h
Mix with 60 ml water. Poorly soluble in water so administer through blood administration set to filter precipitants.
Name the 7 treatment steps for malignant hyperthermia
- Get help, stop offending agent, hyperventilate with 100% oxygen. New breathingcircuit with no residual vapour. Keep asleep with propofol.
- Dantrolene 2.5mg/kg rapidly iv large bore! Mix 20mg vile from fridge with 60 ml water
Maintain anaesthesia with propofol TIVA - Bicarbonate for metabolic acidosis
- Cool patient - gastric lavage, cold fluids etc
- Treat dysrhythmias . usually resolve with treatment of acidosis and hyperkalaemia. Use standard drug therapy except calcium channel blockers! May cause hyperk or cardiac arrest used with dantrolene.
- Treat hyperkalaemia with hyperventilation, bicarbonate, glucose/insulin, calcium if life threatening
Treat myoglobinaemia with forced alkaline diuresis (furosemide, mannitol and fluid)
Treat DIC with FFP, cryoprecipitate, platelets - Follow ETCO2, electrolytes, blood gas, ck, core temp, urine output and colour, coagulation studies. Admit to ICU.
Name the 2 classes of non-depolarising muscle relaxants with 3 examples each
Benzylisoquinolines:
• mivacurium (short acting),
• atracurium (intermediate)
• cys-atracurium (intermediate)
Steroids:
• vecuronium (intermed)
•Rocuronium (intermed)
• pancuronium (long acting)
What is the preferred muscle relaxant in RSI?
Suxamethonium
What is the preferred muscle relaxant in patients with no risk aspiration but need ETT?
Non-depolarising
What is the preferred muscle relaxant in surgeries needing muscle relaxants eg ECT, joint reduction?
Suxamethonium
Name 3 indications suxamethonium
• RSI (risk aspiration)
• very short procedures needing muscle relax eg ECT, reductions dislocations
• emergency drug to treat laryngospasm
Moa non-depolarizing muscle relaxants?
• Competitive antagonists ach at nachr
• prevent ach binding therefore no depolirazation possible, causing muscle relaxation
How reverse non-depolarizing muscle relaxants?
Neostigmine (with glycopyrolate/atropine)
Where are steroid muscle relaxants metabolised?
Liver
(Vecuronium most, rocoronium least)
Where are steroid muscle relaxants excreted?
Kidneys (pan and rocuronium also biliary)
Where are benzylisoquinolone muscle relaxants metabolised?
Organ independent
Mivacurium: pseudocholinesterase
Atracurium and cis-atracurium: Hoffman elimination and ester hydrolysis
Not excreted
Therefore best in liver and renal impairment!
Name an adverse effect mivacurium
Prolonged apnoea if decreased pseudocholinesterase
Name an adverse effect atracurium
Release histamine so avoid in asthmatics
Cis-atracurium not.
Name an adverse effect pancuronium
Vagolytic: cause tachycardia. Avoid in ihd.
Which 4 muscle relaxants must be stored in fridge?
•Atracurium
• cis-atracurium
•Rocuronium
• pancuronium
Name 4 drugs that may prolong the action of suxamethonium
MELC.
• Lithium
• ecothiopate eye drops
• cyclophosphamide
• metoclopramide
Name 6 factors that may prolong the action of non-depolarizing agents
HHHAMM
• Metabolic acidosis
• hypothermia
• hypokalaemia
• hypermagneseMia!
• antibiotics especially aminoglycosides
•Myasthenia gravis, myasthenia syndrome (lambert Eaton), muscular dystrophies
Name 9 conditions predisposing to upregulation of NachR (nicotine acetylcholine receptors) and consequence thereof
I Molest Giant PLUMBS
Found in states of functional denervation. Characterised by foetal type receptors at extra functional sites. Result in increased requirements nondepolarising muscle relaxants (resistance) and hyperkalaemia after suxamethonium admin
• umn lesions
• LMN lesions
• muscle injury
• burn injury!
• immobilisation
• sepsis or infection
• prolonged exposure to NMB
• multiple sclerosis
• guillan barre
Name 6 acquired causes of decreased pseudocholinesterase activity that prolong suxamethonium action slightly (can appear like sux apnea) NB
• Pregnancy ( dilution effect)
• newborns (dilutional effect and immature liver, thus decreased pcE synthesis)
• liver diseases
•Malnutrition
• severe hypothyroidism
• plasmapheresis
Treatment scolene apnoea? (5)
• Treat apnoea:mechanical ventilation until normal muscle strength returns
• prevent awareness: continue anaesthesia with inhalant or sedate well with benzo
• exclude differential diagnosis
• confirm scolene apnoea: PCE activity. With Dibucaine (local anaesthetic that inhib activity PCE) or fluoride number. If confirmed counsel and test family and medic alert bracelet
• options: ffp/whole blood contain PCE and will speed recovery but risk infections high so not recommended. Also recombinant PCE but very expensive.
Name 2 ways a patient is tested for malignant hyperthermia gene
• Gold standard: halothane/caffeine contraction tests on fresh muscle biopsy
• genetic studies on blood samples but lower sensitivity but not in sa.
How should patients with history malignant hyperthermia be anaesthetised?
Propofol tiva