Principles of General Anaesthesia Flashcards

1
Q

What are the five clinically desirable effects of general anaesthetics? State which two effects are caused by ALL general anaesthetics.

A
Loss of consciousness (ALL) 
Suppression of reflex responses (ALL) 
Relief of pain  
Muscle relaxation  
Amnesia
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2
Q

Nitric oxide
Diethyl ether
Halothane
Enflurane

A

inhalational general anaesthetics.

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3
Q

Name 2 IV general anaesthetics.

A

Propofol

Etomidate

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4
Q

What is the Meyer/Overton correlation?

A

For a long time it was believed that anaesthetic potency increases in direct proportion with the oil/gas partition coefficient
In other words: anaesthetic potency is directly correlated with lipid solubility

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5
Q

hat was the explanation for the Meyer/Overton correlation?

A

The drugs disturbed the lipid bilayer

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6
Q

What were the problems with this explanation?

A

At therapeutic doses, the changes to the lipid bilayer were minute
How would the change in membrane impact on membrane proteins anyway?

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7
Q

What are the two real mechanisms of action of general anaesthetics?

A

Reduced neuronal excitability

Altered synaptic function

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8
Q

Describe the difference in the selectivity of IV and inhalational agents.

A

IV agents are more selective for GABA-A

Inhalational agents are far less selective

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9
Q

Which specific subunits of the GABA-A receptor do IV agents thatalter synaptic function target and what are their effects?

A

Beta 3 – important in suppression of reflex responses

Alpha 5 – important in amnesia

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10
Q

What are the two main targets of inhalational agents that alter synaptic function?

A

GABA-A receptors

Glycine receptors

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11
Q

Which subunit of the GABA-A receptor do inhalational agents seem to be more selective for?

A

Alpha 1 – important in suppression of reflex responses

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12
Q

Explain how nitrous oxide induces its anaesthetic effect.

A

Nitrous oxide competes for the glycine-binding site on NMDA receptors (glutamate receptors)
Glycine is an important coagonist of NMDA receptors – it allows the full receptor response to be transduced

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13
Q

What is the effect of blocking neuronal nicotinic acetylcholinereceptors with regards to general anaesthesia?

A

Blocking nAChR leads to reduced nerve conduction

This is important for amnesia and relief of pain

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14
Q

Which channels are important in reducing neuronal excitability via the action of inhalational agents?

A

TREK – background leak K+ channels

These lead to hyperpolarisation of neurones and inhalational agents facilitate the opening of these channels

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15
Q

Inhalational agents are less selective than IV agents. What effect does this have on the dose needed to induce general anaesthesia?

A

Generally speaking, a higher dose of inhalational agents is required

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16
Q

Explain how general anaesthetics cause a loss of consciousness.

A

Loss of consciousness is caused by depressing the excitability of thalamocortical neurones
This is mediated by TREK channels and GABA-A
NOTE: the reticular activating system is also involved

17
Q

Explain how general anaesthetics suppress reflex responses.

A

Depression of reflex pathways in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord
This is done by anaesthetics that enhance GABA-A and glycine function

18
Q

Explain how general anaesthetics cause amnesia.

A

There are a lot of GABA-A receptors in the hippocampus that have the alpha 5 subunit
General anaesthetics stimulate these receptors to decrease synaptic transmission in the hippocampus

19
Q

Explain how blood: gas partition coefficient affects the speed at which the general anaesthetic penetrates the brain.

A

If you have a GA that dissolves really well in the blood, then there is less GA in the gas phase in blood and hence less GA penetrates the blood-brain barrier and reaches the brain
It is only anaesthetic that remains in the gas phase that diffuses easily into the brain

20
Q

Would a general anaesthetics with a high or low blood: gas partition coefficient be useful for anaesthetics and why?

A

LOW
This means that less of the GA will dissolve in the blood so more will be left in the gas phase
Hence more of the drug will penetrate the blood-brain barrier and reach the brain

21
Q

What are the benefits of inhalation anaesthetics?

A

Rapidly eliminated

Good control of the depth of anaesthesia

22
Q

What are the benefits of IV anaesthetics?

A

Fast induction

Less coughing/excitatory phenomena

23
Q

What types of drugs can be used to achieve:

a. Relief of pain
b. Muscle relaxation
c. Amnesia

A
a. Relief of pain 
Opioids
b. Muscle relaxation  
Neuromuscular blockers 
c. Amnesia 
Benzodiazepines