Session 8 - Anaethetics Flashcards
Give two overall types on anaethetics
Inhalational
Intravenous
Give five types of inhalational anaesthetic
o Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
o Isoflurane
o Desflurane
o Sevoflurane
Give three types of intravenous agents
o Propofol
o Thiopental
o Ketamine
Outline the five main areas affected anatomically during general anaethesia
o Reticular Formation (Reticular Activating System) Depressed (Responsible for transference of pain signals) Hindbrain, midbrain, thalamus o Thalamus Transmits and modified sensory information o Hippocampus depressed Memory o Brainstem depressed Respiratory and some CVS o Spinal cord Dorsal horn – analgesia Motor neuronal activity (MAC)
Name four types of anaesthesia
General Anaesthesia
Regional Anaesthesia
Local Anaesthesia
Dissociative Anaethesia
What is general anaethesia and what does it effect?
Affects the whole body and typically involves use of intravenous and inhalational anaesthetics with adjuvants. They reversibly inhibit sensory, motor and sympathetic nerve transmission (Not parasympathetic?)in the CNS to produce unconsciousness and absence of sensation.
What does regional anaethesia effect?
This involves rendering large, specific regions of the body insensate. The region is determined by transmission block between that part of the body and the spinal cord. Both spinal and epidural anaesthesia can achieve this. The patient remains conscious, but may also be administered adjuvants depending on the procedure.
What is local anaethesia?
Involves a more defined peripheral nerve block with injection of a local anaesthetic. Used for tooth extraction, or for example, procedures on the hand and fingers, foot or big toe, or internally in the urethra when performing cystoscopy.
What is dissociative anaethesia?
Uses agents such as ketamine that inhibit transmission of nerve impulses between higher and lower centres of the brain. Used in children and the elderly for short procedures, as they are less susceptible to its postoperative hallucinogenic effects.
How do anaesthetic agents exert their effect?
effects by affecting postsynaptic transmission of both inhibitory and excitatory Ligand Gated Ion Channels.
What is important about the interaction between inhaled agents and their sites of action?
Weak and easily reversed
Name the two overarching types of ion channel anaesthetics effect
Inhibitory ligand gated ion channel
Excitatory ligand gated ion channel
What are two types of inhibitors ligand gated ion channel that anaesthetics effect?
GABA activated chloride channels
Glycine activated chlorine channels
What do anaesthetics do (naming one in particular) at GABA activated chloride ion channels
o Many inhalational and IV anaesthetics have a primary effect on GABAA
Propofol exerts its main sedative effect on this channel
o Bound anaesthetics increase sensitivity to GABA and increase Cl- currents
o This Hyperpolarises the neurone and decreases its excitability
o There are multiple binding sites, depending on the anaesthetic being used
What do anaesthetics do at Glycine activated Chloride ion channels?
o Bound anaesthetics increase sensitivity to Glycine and increase Cl- currents
o This Hyperpolarises the neurone and decreases its excitability
o Glycine ligand gated ion channels are especially important in signalling inhibitory neurotransmission in the spinal cord and brainstem and act to reduce the response to noxious stimuli
What are the two excitatory ligand gated ion channels effected by anaesthetics?
Neuronal nicotinic Ach receptors
NMDA receptors
Outline Neuronal Nictonic Ach Receptors
o Bound anaesthetics inhibit some subtypes of neuronal Nicotinic Ach receptors
o This reduces excitatory Na+ currents caused by Ach binding
o This is considered to likely contribute to analgesia and amnesia rather than sedation
Give the action of NMDA receptors and the two major anaesthetics that have an effect on them
o NMDA receptors are responsive to glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain
o Nitrous Oxide (N2O) and Ketamine exert their action here
o Bound anaesthetics reduce Ca2+ currents, which are involved in further modulation of synaptic responses
What is MAC?
Minimum Alveolar Concentration (MAC)
The alveolar concentration (at 1 atmosphere of pressure) at which 50% of subjects fail to move to surgical stimulus (unpremedicated breathing O2/air)
Which is better, low or high MAC?
The lower the MAC value, the more potent the inhaled anaesthetic is, as the MAC closely relates to its lipid solubility (able to get to the necessary high concentrations in the cell membrane easier).
When is surgical depth achieved in terms of MAC?
1.2-1.5