Practical 2: Drug effects on the autonomic nervous system Flashcards
Summarise the method of this practical
- work in groups of 3-4 w. 3 volunteers (ABC)
- one volunteer has placebo inhaler (control), one volunteer has Salbutamol inhaler, one volunteer has salbutamol inhaler w. a spacer
- other 1-2 group members take measurements
- before being given drug, 4 control measurements taken at 3 minute intervals (BP, pulse pressure, PEFR)
- volunteers inhale 2 doses (2x 0.1mg of inhaler) every 3 minutes until 6 doses (or HR gets too high)
What apparatus is used for this practical? (5)
Sphygomomanometer, Stethoscope, Wright peak flow mini-meter, MDI (metered dose inhaler), spacer
what do the Sphygomomanometer measure?
BP and HR
what does the wright peak flow mini-meter measure?
the rte of airflow during forced expiration in litres/min
what is the purpose of a spacer?
allows patient to breathe normally whilst inhaling the drug
How is BP taken using Sphyomomanometer and stethoscope?
keep patient’s elbow straight
inflate the cuff to 180 mmHg and release air steadily from the valve, allowing pressure to fall
- SBP is when the korotkow sounds begin and DBP is when they stop/muffle
(PP= SBP-DBP)
How is the wright peak flow mini-meter used?
- fit a disposable cardboard mouthpiece to the meter
- zero the meter and hold horiztonally
- sit/stand upright
- make a maximal inspiration
- hold nose
- make maximal fast expiration (as hard as possible)
- read the PEFR
How is a MDI used?
remove cap from mouthpiece
check that mouthpiece is clean
- shake
- hold upright and put in mouth, forming seal with lips.
- begin to inhale and depress drug- breath in steadily
- hold breath for 10 seconds
How is a spacer used?
- attach MDI to spacer
- put spacer in mouth and put one puff in spacer
- breath deeply for 10 seconds
- hold breath for 10 seconds
