Neuromuscular Blocking Drugs Flashcards
Clinical uses of neuromuscular blockers
Facilitate tracheal intubation—2 x ED95
Improve surgical working conditions—90% suppression of single twitch response is usually sufficient
Mechanical ventilation of the lungs (ICU)
Laryngospasm—SCh 0.1 mg/kg IV (last resort→ first try PPV)
Laryngospasm Treatment
SCh 0.1 mg/kg IV
NMBD Pharmacodynamics
The drug of choice is determined by the speed of onset and the duration of action needed. The drug is measured by the nerve stimulator
Muscle relaxants have equal potency (ED95) and the twitch response is decreased in the presence of volatile anesthetics (volatiles prolong the MR)
Don’t redose a patient with NMBD until
you know how many twitches they have
Giving NDNMBD after SCh
Don’t do it until twitches are back
NMBD effect on muscles
Small, rapidly moving muscles (ie vocal cords) are the first to relax. Diaphragm one of last to relax.
Onset of blockade
Depends on the fiber type and density of ACh receptors
Fast fibers that are dense in ACh receptors = blocked first
Indicators of NMB effect
Orbicularis occuli = correlates most accurately with the vocal cords and diaphragm
Adductor pollicis = poor indicator of laryngeal relaxation The adductor pollicis can be blocked before the larynx
NMBD Pharmacokinetics: limited volume of distribution
(quaternary ammonium groups- highly ionized water-soluble compounds, with limited lipid solubility), so Vd is similar to extracellular fluid volume
NMBD can’t cross lipid membranes
(such as BBB, placenta, GI epithelium, renal tubular epithelium)→ thus they don’t produce CNS effects, renal tubual reabsorption is minimal, oral absorption is ineffective, and maternal administration doesn’t harm baby
NMBD Plasma clearance and elimination
Are affected by age (decreased clearance), volatile agents (decrease clearance) and disease
Which NMBD is bad for renal patients?
pancuronium
Class: …curiums
Benzylisoquinolinium
Class: …roniums
Aminosteriods
Mechanism of action of NMBD
Interrupt transmission of the nerve impulse at the NMJ (postsynaptic receptor)
NMBD Electrostatic attraction
+ nitrogen binds to – alpha subunit of receptor
NMBD Lack of specificity
Skeletal muscle→ cardiac muscarinic receptors and autonomic ganglia nicotinic receptors
SCh Mechanism
Binds to and activates receptor (fasciculations). A depolarized postjunctional membrane cannot respond to subsequent release of ACh
Non-depolarizing NMBD
Bind to and block the receptor
Acetylcholine
Endogenous NT located in the central and peripheral nervous system. It is stored in synaptic vesicles and released into the synaptic cleft as packets (quanta). ACh binds to cholinergic receptors (nicotinic vs. muscarinic). ACh binds to receptor on the postsynaptic membrane and causes a change in membrane permeability to ions→ depolarization of skeletal muscle and contraction. ACh is rapidly hydrolyzed by acetylcholinesterase to acetic acid and choline
Succinylcholine dose, onset, and duration
Dose = 1-2 mg/kg Onset = 30-60 s (low lipid solubility) Duration = 3-5 minutes
SCh breakdown
SCh is not a substrate for acetylcholinesterase, it is instead broken down by plasma cholinesterases (not found at NMJ), so SCh has to diffuse away from NMJ to be hydrolyzed
Higher doses of SCh have what effect?
Increased duration
Decreased metabolism effect on SCh
Prolonged duration
Liver failure effect on SCh
Prolonged effect
Phase I blockade with SCh
Prototypical effect. Decreased single twitch response, decreased amplitude during tetany (no fade between twitches), TOF ratio >0.7 (no fade), absence of posttetanic facilitation (can’t increase ACh with tetany to increase twitch response), enahanced block by anticholinesterase (neostigmine + no twitches = longer sux duration)
Phase II blockade with SCh
Nerve response resembles non-depolarizing block. There is fade (TOF and tetany) and there is posttetanic potentiation. Transition from phase I to phase II is abrupt (due to repeated doses/prolonged infusion and manifested as tachyphylaxis). Antagonized by anticholinesterases (now you can use neostigmine)
Plasma cholinesterase
Degrades SCh