Anaesthetics Flashcards
(278 cards)
why are patients fasted before general anaesthesia?
to reduce risk of aspiration of stomach contents and subsequent pneumonitis
when is risk of aspiration highest in general anaethesia?
before and during intubation and during extubation
what is the typical fasting for an operation?
6 hours before no food or feeds
2 hours before no clear fluids - fully NBM
what is preoxygenation in anaesthesia?
when patient has several minutes of breathing 100% O2 to give a reserve of oxygen for the period between when they lose consciousness and when they are successfully intubated and ventilated
what is premedication in general anaesthesia?
medication given to a patient before they are put under inorder to relax them, reduce anxiety, pain and make intubation easier
what 3 medications may be used for premedication?
benzodiazepines - to relax muscles and reduce anxiety as well as causing amnesia - midazolam
opiates - to reduce pain and hypertensive response to laryngoscope - fentanyl or alfentanyl
Alpha-2adrenergic agonists - help with sedation and pain - clonidine
when is rapid sequence induction used?
in emergency/non-fasted patients
in high risk patients - GORD, pregnancy
what is induction in anaesthetics?
when the patient becomes unconsious
what are 2 methods that can be used in rapid sequence induction to reduce risk of aspiration?
upright positioning of patient
cricoid pressure
what is the triad of general anaesthesia?
Hypnosis
muscle relaxation
analgesia
what are the 2 delivery methods of hypnotic agents?
IV or inhalation
what are 4 IV medications used as hypnotic agents in general anaesthesia?
propofol - most common
ketamine
thiopental sodium
etomidate - rare
what are 4 Inhaled hypnotic agents used in general anaesthesia?
sevoflurane - most common
desflurane - bad for environment
isoflurane - rare
nitrous oxide
what is total IV anaesthesia, what medication is usually used and what are the benefits?
when IV medication is used for both induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia
propofol most commonly used
nicer recovery for patient
How do muscle relaxants work?
block acetylecholine at neuromuscular junction from stimulating response
what are the two categories of muscle relaxants?
depolarising and non-depolarising
what medications can reverse the effect of neuromuscular blocking agents in anaesthetics?
cholinesterase inhibitors - neostigimine
what is an example of a depolarising muscle relaxant?
suzamethonium
what are 2 examples of non-depolarising muscle relaxants?
rocuronium
atracurium
what medication can be used to reverse non depolarising muscle relaxants specifically?
sugammadex
what are 4 common medications used for analgesia in general anaesthetics?
fentanyl
alfentanil
remifentanil
morphine
what 3 antiemetics are often given for postoperative nausea?
ondansetron (5HT3 receptor antagonist) - Avoid in long QT risk
Dexamethasone - caution in diabetes or immunocompromise
cyclizine - H1 receptor antagonist - caution in HF and elderly
what tests can be done to check muscle relaxants have worn off before emergence?
nerve stimulation either of ulnar nerve for thumb twitching or of facial nerve for orbiculares oculi muscle movement
normally tested in train of four - stimulate nerve 4x > shouldn’t get weaker with repeated stimulation > sign muscle relaxant not quite worn off yet
what are 2 most common risks of general anaesthesia?
sore throat
post op nausea and vomiting