PHARMACOLOGY-local anesthetics Flashcards
What is the function of the following nerve types A alpha A delta B C
A alpha = motor
A delta = fast pain (dolor)
B = preganglionic SNS
C = Slow pain
What neuronal factors increase conduction velocity
Myelination
Wider axonal diameter
How are peripheral nerves subdivided
What are the different subdivisions
Subdivided by their diameter and myelination
Subdivisions = A, B, C
What is the order of LA inhibition of peripheral nerves from first to last
- B fiber
- C fibers
- Small diameter A fibers (delta, gamma)
- Large diameter A fiber (alpha, beta)
How does regression of a peripheral blockade occur (order nerves from first to last)
Opposite order of initial onset
- large diameter A fibers
- Small diameter A fibers
- C fibers
- B fibers
Order the peripheral nerves by their conduction velocity, from greatest to least
- A alpha, beta
- A gamma, delta
- B
- C
Order the peripheral nerves by their diameter from biggest to smallest
- A alpha, beta
- A gamma, delta
- B
- C
Which peripheral nerve senses temperature, touch, and fast pain
A delta
Which peripheral nerve senses slow pain, temperature, and touch
C
Describe the function of the following peripheral A nerve types alpha beta gamma delta
alpha = skeletal muscle (motor), proprioception beta = touch, pressure gamma = skeletal muscle tone delta = fast pain, temp, touch
Which peripheral nerve functions at the preganglionic ANS fibers
B
Define minimum effective concentration related to LA
Cm is a unit of measure that quantifies the concentration of LA that is required to block conduction
analogous to ED50/MAC
Describe the minimum effective concentration for peripheral fibers that are more easily blocked vs more resistant to block
Cm is lower in fibers that are easily blocked
Cm is higher in fibers that are more resistant to LA block
Describe the minimum effective concentration (Cm) required for the following peripheral nerve variables
Wider diameter=
Higher tissue pH=
Greater nerve stimulation=
Wider diameter= Higher Cm
Higher tissue pH= Reduced Cm
Greater nerve stimulation= Reduced Cm
What type of channels are affected by local anesthetics
Voltage-gated sodium channels
How do local anesthetics affect voltage-gated sodium channels
They reversibly bond to the alpha subunit of the channel
This blocks the channel and reduces Na+ conductance
What 3 states can sodium channels exist
- Resting (nonconducting)
- Active (conducting)
- Inactive (nonconducting)
During what state does LA bind to the voltage-gated sodium channels
Active (open)
Inactive (closed refractory)
When are local anesthetics unable to bind to voltage-gated Na+ channels
During the channels resting state
What are the resting membrane potential and threshold potential of peripheral nerves
RMP = -70 mV TP = -55 mV
How is the resting membrane potential maintained in peripheral nerves
By K+
After polarization, K+ conductance restores RMP via the Na/K-ATPase pumps
What ion is the primary determinant of threshold potential of a peripheral nerve
Ca++
What effect do local anesthetics have on resting membrane potential or threshold potential
No effect
LA only inhibits the ability to initiate an AP
Are local anesthetics acids or bases
They are weak bases
What occurs to the local anesthetic structure when it is injected
Dissociation into an uncharged base and an ionized conjugate acid
With a pKa >7.4, what percent of the local anesthetic exist in the charged state
> 50% exists as ionized, conjugate acid
How does local anesthetic diffuse through peripheral neurons
What occurs once the LA is in the neuron and why
non-ionized LA diffuse through lipid-rich axolemma
In the neuron, LA dissociated according to a new equilibrium d/t slightly more acidic environment inside the neuron
How do local anesthetics bind to the voltage-gated sodium channel
The ionized portion (conjugate acid) bonds to the alpha subunit
What 3 key components make up local anesthetic molecular structure
- Benzene ring
- Intermediate side chain
- Tertiary amine
What portion of the local anesthetic molecular structure determines the drug class
The intermediate side chain
What are the 2 types of local anesthetic drug classes
- Ester
2. Amide
How do the 2 types of local anesthetic classes differ
- Ester = metabolized in plasma by pseudocholinesterase
2. Amide = metabolized in the liver by P450 system
List the ester-type local anesthetics
Benzocaine Cocaine Chloroprocaine Procaine Tetracaine
List the amide-type local anesthetics
Bupivicaine Dibucaine Lidocaine Mepivacaine Ropivacaine
Allergic reactions to local anesthetics occur more commonly with which type of LA and why
More common with esters due to PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid)
If a patient has an allergy to an ester local anesthetic can they receive an amide? Why
Yes if it is preservative-free
What properties does the benzene ring have in the local anesthetic structure
Lipophilic
Permits diffusion through lipid bilayers
What properties does the intermediate chain have in the local anesthetic structure
Determines the class of the LA (ester v amide)
Metabolism
Allergic potential
What properties does the tertiary amine have in the local anesthetic structure
Hydrophilic
Accepts proton
Makes molecule a weak base
What properties determine the following for local anesthetics
Onset
Potency
Duration of action
Onset = pKa
Potency = Lipid solubility
Duration of action = protein binding
What PK/PD factors do the following variables of local anesthetics have
pKa
Lipid solubility
Protein binding
pKa = onset of action
Lipid solubility = potency
Protein binding = duration of action
Explain how pKa affects onset of action for local anesthetics
if the pKa is closer to the pH of blood, a larger fraction will be non-ionized (lipid soluble) allowing for diffusion into neuron
What effect does local anesthetic concentration have on onset
Higher concentration can increase onset
How does lipid solubility affect the potency of local anesthetics
More lipid soluble LA = more diffusion of LA into neuron = more bound receptors
What local anesthetic property affects vascular uptake
How is this effect countered
Vasodilatory property
Countered with the coadministration of epinephrine for vasoconstriction
What factors prolong local anesthetic duration of action
Protein binding
Lipid solubility
Coadministration of epinephrine
Which local anesthetic has no intrinsic vasodilating effect
Cocaine
It inhibits NE reuptake causing vasoconstriction
What 2 factors determine ionization of a local anesthetic
pH of a solution
pKa of the drug
Compare the pKa for the following local anesthetics from least to greatest Ropivacaine Prilocaine Lidocaine Mepivacaine Levobupivacaine Bupivacaine
Mepivacaine < prilocaine < lidocaine < ropivacaine < levobupivacaine < bupivacaine
How does the pKa of ester LAs compare to amide LAs
Ester pKa is higher than amide
How does benzocaine differ from other local anesthetics (3)
The pKa is much lower (3.5)
It is non-ionized at physiologic pH but still produces anesthesia
Methemoglobinemia is a significant risk
How do pharmacokinetics for local anesthetics differ from typical systemic administration
Absorption into systemic circulation removes (eliminates) the drug from the site, eliminating its effects
What are 5 factors that influence vascular uptake and plasma concentration
- Site of injection
- Tissue blood flow
- Physiochemical properties of local anesthetic
- Metabolism
- Addition of vasoconstrictor
What injection sites are at increased risk for LAST
list from greatest to least
IV Tracheal Interpleural Intercostal Caudal Epidural Brachial plexus Femoral Sciatic Subcutaneous
What determines the final plasma concentration of a local anesthetic
The total dose of anesthetic (NOT its concentration or speed of injection)
What protein do local anesthetics preferential bind to
alpha 1-acid glycoprotein
also albumin
How are amide and ester local anesthetics metabolized
Amides = P450 enzyme in liver Esters = pseudocholinesterase in plasma
How is cocaine metabolized
By pseudo cholinesterase in plasma and hepatic P450 enzymes
What effect does the addition of a vasoconstrictor with local anesthetic have at the injection site
Decreases systemic absorption by up to one-third
Prolongs duration
Greater effect with LA that have greater dilating properties