Neuromuscular Blocking Agents Overview/Succinylcholine Flashcards
Who was the first person to discover neuromuscular blockade?
Andrew Griffith
What do neuromuscular blocking agents block?
SKELETAL MUSCLE function (not cardiac or smooth muscle)
What is the innervation of skeletal muscles?
innervated by large myelinated alpha-motor neurons
Where do the neurons that innervate skeletal muscles originate?
from cell bodies located in either the brainstem or the ventral (anterior) horn of the spinal cord
Describe the size and function of B nerve fibers.
Size: <3 microns
Function: Pregangolionic, Sympathetic
Describe the size and function of C (unmyelinated) nerve fibers.
Size: -.3-1.3 microns
Functions: Temperature, Dull Pain
Describe the size and function of A-delta nerve fibers.
Size: 1-4 microns
Function: temperature and sharp pain
Describe the size and function of A-gamma nerve fibers.
Size: 3-6 microns
Function: Muscle spindle, muscle tone
Describe the size and function of A-beta nerve fibers.
Size: 6-22 microns
Function: Light pressure, touch
Describe the size and function of A-alpha nerve fibers.
Size: 6-22 microns
Function: Somatic motor, proprioception
What class of nerve fibers are we concerned with for neuromuscular blocking agents?
A-alpha
What are the two components of the neuromuscular junction?
Motor neuron and muscle fiber
What synapse occurs at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ)?
synapse where PRESYNAPTIC MOTOR NERVE ENDINGS meet the POSTSYNAPTIC MEMBRANES OF SKELETAL MUSCLES (motor end plate)
What is another term for the postsynaptic membranes of the skeletal muscles?
Motor end plate
NMJ: What is located at the presynaptic nerve terminal?
vesicles filled w/ACh
NMJ: What is located at the postsynaptic muscle membrane?
nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs)
What are the two types of cholinergic receptors?
Muscarinic & Nicotinic receptors
What are targets of nicotinic receptors? (4)
Skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, ganglia and CNS
What is the subunit structure of nicotinic receptors (nAChR)?
Two-α’s plus β,δ,ε
Describe normal neuromuscular transmission.
two ACh molecules bind to two α subunits located on the postsynaptic muscle membrane nAChR
What happens after two ACh molecules bind to two alpha subunits during normal neuromuscular transmission?
This binding initiates conformational changes within the nAChR that opens a channel allowing Na+ and Ca++ ions to move into the skeletal muscle and K+ to move out of the muscle
What ions move out of the skeletal muscle?
K+
What happens as a result from the flow of ions in and out of the skeletal muscle? (2)
depolarization of the motor endplate and creates the action potential that triggers skeletal muscle contraction
Describe the complete process of neuromuscular transmission.
Once the released ACh binds to the α subunits on the nAChR causing conformational change within the receptor and opens the channel so that Na+ flows into the skeletal muscle cell and K+ out of the cell, then depolarization of the skeletal muscle cell occurs with initiation of action potentials across the surface of the muscle membrane and into the transverse tubules of skeletal muscle
What does action potential propagation cause?
interaction between 2 types of Ca++ channels within skeletal muscle: dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) in the T-tubules and ryanodine receptor 1 (RyR1) in the sarcoplasmic reticulum & binds to troponin C causing cross-bridging between myosin and actin (coupling)
What two Ca++ channels within skeletal muscles are a target of action potential propagation?
dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) & ryanodine receptor 1 (RyR1)
Where is the dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) located?
T-tubules
What is the ultimate byproduct of neuromuscular transmission?
skeletal muscle contraction
What is the desired onset of an Ideal Neuromuscular Blocking Agent?
Rapid, predictable onset of effects with one circulation time to facilitate rapid securing of the airway
What is the desired systemic response of an Ideal Neuromuscular Blocking Agent?
Absence of histamine release, influence on heart rate, bronchial tone
What is the desired accumulation of an Ideal Neuromuscular Blocking Agent?
Adaptable to long cases, not cumulative
What is the desired non depolarizing side effects of an Ideal Neuromuscular Blocking Agent?
Nondepolarizing – does not cause myalgia, or increased ICP, intragastric or ocular pressure
What is the desired blockade level of an Ideal Neuromuscular Blocking Agent?
Predictable depth of blockade
What is the desired reversibility of an Ideal Neuromuscular Blocking Agent?
Ability to be reversed quickly and completely without residual effects
What is the desired placenta effect of an Ideal Neuromuscular Blocking Agent?
Absence of placental transfer when administered to a parturient
What is the desired MH effect of an Ideal Neuromuscular Blocking Agent?
Does not trigger malignant hyperthermia
What is the desired clinical byproduct of an Ideal Neuromuscular Blocking Agent?
The ability to produce hypnosis and/or amnesia
What are drug characteristics that are important to take into consideration when selecting a neuromuscular blocking agent?
- Duration of action is matched with desired duration effect
- Drug is not contraindicated
- Mechanism of metabolism and elimination are compatible with the patient’s comorbidities
- Any side effects are not contraindicated by the patient’s comorbidities
- Choice is cost effective for the intended volume/duration used
Define Depolarizing Neuromuscular Blocking Agents.
these drugs act as an AGONIST (mimic ACh) at the postsynaptic nAChR causing prolonged membrane depolarization
What is the only Depolarizing Neuromuscular Blocking Agents in clinical use?
Succinylcholine
What is the definition of Nondepolarizing Neuromuscular Blocking Agents in clinical use?
these drugs COMPETE with ACh for the active binding sites at the postsynaptic nAChR
Nondepolarizing Neuromuscular Blocking Agents are ________ antagonist.
Competitive
What properties are NOT associated with NMBDs?
NO AMNESTIC OR ANALGESIC PROPERTIES
What is the principle action of non depolarizing NMBDs?
binding to one alpha subunit is sufficient to produce neuromuscular blockade (competitive antagonist)
What is the principle action of Succinylcholine (SCh)?
binding to nAChR produces prolonged depolarization to the motor endplate desensitization of nAChRs and inactivates voltage-gated Na+ channels at NMJ
What enzyme is present at the NMJ?
Acetylcholinesterase
What does Acetylcholinesterase
break ACh into (2)?
acetic acid & choline
What does Succinylcholine produce?
a depolarizing block also called phase I block
Succinylcholine: Neuromuscular block preceded by _________
muscle fasciculations
What is Succinylcholine’s structure similar to?
Similar structure to ACh
What is Succinylcholine an agonist or antagonist?
Partial agonist at postsynaptic nAChRs
What receptors does Succinylcholine stimulate at the NMJ?
Stimulates cholinergic receptors at the nAChRs at the NMJ, ganglionic nicotinic receptors, and muscarinic receptors
What does Succinylcholine cause?
prolonged depolarization of the endplate region that results in desensitization of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Where is the prolong depolarization occur in response to Succinylcholine?
endplate region