Anaesthetics Flashcards
What is anaesthesia?
Loss of sensation
Name 3 types of anaesthesia
Local
Regional
General
Intravenous drugs to induce anaesthesia (3)
Profolol
Thiopental
Etomidate
What are inhalation drugs usually administered with?
Mixture of oxygen and air or nitrous oxide
Which is often given as a premedication?
Benzodiazepines
Describe the 4 stages of anaesthesia
1 - Loss of consciousness
2 - Excitement/ delirium; coughing, vomitting and struggling may occur
3 - Stage of surgical anaesthesia
From onset of automatic respiration to respiratory paralysis
4 - Cessation of respiration to death
What happens in stage 4?
Laryngeal reflex in lost
Pupils dilate
What do muscle relaxants do?
Cause muscle paralysis allowing intubation and surgical access to body cavities
Which medication can cause short term paralysis?
Suxamethonium
Which medication an cause long term paralysis?
Atracurium
What can be used to maintain an open airway during sedation?
Guedel/ oropharygeal airway
Nasopharyngeal airway
What should you check about a patients medical history before anaesthsia?
Cardiac - hypertension, angina, ischaemic heart disease, valvular hearth disease Respiratory - COPD, asthma, smoking Diabetes Epilepsy Bleeding disorders Current medication - anticoagulants, cardiac, inhalers Past anaesthetic and surgical history Allergies Airway and reflux
What is malignant hyperthermia?
An inherited disorder of skeletal muscle ONLY triggered by certain anaesthetic drugs
Abnormal accumulation of calcium in muscle cells
Anaethetic emergency - mortality 2%
What symptoms occur in malignant hyperthermia?
Unexplained: Increase in expired CO2 concetration Tachycardia Increase in oxygen requirement Temperature increase
Which is the only drug effective in limiting the MH process?
Dantrolene
