Muscle Relaxants Flashcards
1
Q
What are muscle relaxants?
A
Neuromuscular blocking agents
2
Q
How do muscle relaxants work?
A
Interrupt transmission of impulses from motor nerve to muscle synapse
3
Q
How do Depolarising relaxants work?
A
Cause initial surge at NMJ followed by refractory period where muscle does not respond
4
Q
How do non-depolarising relaxants work?
A
They block the receptors at muscle end plates
This can be reversed
5
Q
What are the affects of non-depolarising relaxants?
A
Do not affect consciousness
Only paralyse skeletal muscle - Means patient is unable to move or respond to inadequate anaesthesia
Function is lost in following order: Facial/neck muscles then tail/limb/abdomen muscles then intercostal/ diaphragmatic
