Regional Anaesthesia Flashcards
1
Q
Nerve anatomy ?
A
- Neurons contain cell bodies, dendrites and axons
- Endoneurium is a connective tissue enveloping individual nerve fibres
- Perineurium cover fascicles formed by a bundle of nerve fibres.
- Epineurium covers bundles of perineurium
2
Q
Neurons ?
A
- Contain positive and negative charges
- The inside of the cell is negative (-90mV)
- Depolarization results in intracellular charge becoming more positive
- Sodium channels open to allow influx
- Threshold is at +35mV
- For every 3Na efflux, 2K influx
3
Q
Neurons, action potential ?
A
Read from book
4
Q
Dynamics of Local anaesthetics ?
A
- LA in their ionised form bind to sodium channels and prevent sodium entering the nerve cell
- Thus action potential is blocked and no sensory information is sent to the brain
5
Q
Types of nerve fibres ? See pictures
A
- A-Alpha: Myelinated / Motor - Efferent to skeletal muscles
- A-Beta: Myelinated / Touch, pressure & proprioception - Afferent from skin.
- A-Gamma: Myelinated / Motor - Efferent to muscle spindles.
- A-Delta: Pain (sharp + Fast) & temperature - Efferent from skin
- B-type: Myelinated / Preganglionic sympathetic - Efferent to vascular smooth muscles
- C-type: Unmyelinated / Pain (dull + slow) and temperature - Afferent from skin / Postganglionic sympathetic - Efferent to vascular smooth muscle.
6
Q
Order of blockade and recovery of nerve fibres?
A
B fibres > C fibres = A-delta > A-gamma > A-beta > A-Alpha
7
Q
Stages of blockade?
A
- Vasomotor block, dilation of skin vessels and increased cutaneous flow
- Blockade of cold sensation
- Sensation f warmth by patient
- Temperature discrimination lost
- Slow and fast pain lost
- Pessure sense abolished
- Loss of proprioception
- Motor paralysis
8
Q
Anatomy of the vertebrae ?
A
- Consists of pedicle, transverse process, superior/ inferior articular processes and spinous process
- Each vertebrae connected to eachother by intervertebral discs
- There are two superior and inferior articular processes (facet joints)
- Pedicles contain a notch superiorly and inferiorly to allow spinal nerve to root to exit the vertebral column.
9
Q
Spinal cord?
A
- End at L1/L2 in adults
2. Ends at L3 in infants
10
Q
Blood supply of the spinal cord?
A
- Anterior spinal artery (x1)- Formed by vertebral arteries at the base of the skull. Supplies 2/3 of the anterior spinal cord.
- Posterior spinal arteries (x2) - Formed by posterior cerebellar arteries - Travels down the dorsal surface of the spinal cord medial to the dorsal nerve root. Supplies 1/3 of the posterior spinal cord
- Additional blood flow is provided to the anterior and posterior spinal arteries from intercostal and lumbar arteries.
11
Q
Artery of Adamkiewicz?
A
- Radicular artery arising from the aorta. It is large and unilateral on the left side
- Supplies the lower anterior 2/3 of the spinal cord.
- Supplies 68% of perfusion to the lower thorax and upper lumbar areas.
- Injury results in anterior spinal artery syndrome.
12
Q
CSF ?
A
- Fills subarachnoid space
- Total volume 150ml
- About 25-35ml present in the subarachnoid space
- Produced at a rate of 450mls / 24 hours
- Specific gravity is between 1.003 & 1.009
- Produced by the choroid plexus
- Absorbed into the dural venous sinuses via arachnoid villi
13
Q
Boundaries of the Epidural space?
A
- Extends from the foramen magnum to the sacral hiatus
- Anterior boundary: Posterior longitudinal ligament
- Lateral boundries: Pedicles and intervertebral ligaments
- Posteriorly: Ligamentum flavum
14
Q
Brachial plexus? See picture
A
- Contribution from C4-T2
2. Divided into; Roots, trunks, divisions, cords and branches
15
Q
Brachial plexus location?
A
- Brachial plexus and subclavian artery lie on top of the first rib
- Brachial plexus is located lateral and posterior to the subclavian artery
- Subclavian vein and anterior scalene muscle are found medial to the subclavian artery