Analgesia Flashcards
(86 cards)
Definition of Pain
unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.
pain experience: consequence of tissue damage, also effective component–>emotional experience of pain.
Physiological pain vs. pathological pain
Physiological: pain proportional to intensity of noxious stimuli–>protects against further injury
Pathological: pain greater than apparent noxious stimuli–>detrimental
Pain pathway
nociceptor: generates an AP (transduction)
afferent fibre: conducts AP to CNS (tranmission)
Spinal cord: processing at level of dorsal horn (modulation)
Brain: conscious experience of pain.
Inhibitory influences of pain pathway
Descending inhibitory neurons (arising in mid-brain) reduce transmission at level of dorsal horn–> decreased tranmission of pain
Sensitisation
may be peripheral or central–> touching a wound/burn becomes painful
Peripheral: inflammatory meditaors (e.g. prostaglandins) increase nociceptor activation at area of tissue damage– lower threshold, therefore more likely to generate AP
Central: repetitive nociceptive input enhances tranmission at level of dorsal horn (NMDA receptor=key mediator in sensitization)– In very severe injury, barage of APs at dorsal horn and subsequent tranmission is enhanced.
Analgesia
absence of pain or a reduction in intensity of pain perceived
drugs: LAs, opioids, NSAIDs, alpha 2 agonists, ketamine, Nitrous oxide
Sites of drug action
- nociceptor- e.g. NSAIDs reduce production of inflammatory mediators- normalize the threshold of nociceptors
- afferent fibre- e.g. local anaesthetics inhibit tranmission of AP in afferent fibre
- dorsal horn e.g. opioids and alpha 2 agonists modulate neurotranmission at 1st synapse between afferent fibres and ascending neuron.
- sensory cortex e.g. central conscious perception of pain e.g. opioids–>emotional aspect of pain
Pre-emptive analgesia
administration of analgesic drugs prior to occurence of tissue damage
- prevents or limits central sensitisation
- post-op pain easier to control–> this is difficult to prove
Preventive analgesia
administration of analgesic drugs throughout peri-operative period
to prevent or limit development of sensitization induced by pre-, intra- or post-operative noxious stimulation
Multimodal analgesia
use of combo of drugs that act a different points in the nociceptive pathway
- more effective analgesia- often means we can use lower doses of individual drugs
- fewer adverse effects
Adjunctive analgesics
drugs not normally used to alleviate pain. increasingly used to manage chronic pain
i.e. NMDA receptor antagonists e.g. amantidine, ketamine
anticonvulsants e.g. gabapentin
tricylic antidepressants e.g. amitryptiline
Local Anaesthetics
widely used in large animals; alternative to GA
used increasingly in small animals (multimodal analgesia)
LA- topical use
to desensitize mucous membranes (oral, ocular, nasal, etc)
to desensitize intact skin (EMLA cream)
LA- local infiltration
i.e. into the edges of a wound
to desensitize dermal and subcutaneous tissues for mino surgery
example: field blocks for flank laparotomies
LA- instillation into a cavity or wound
intrapleural anaesthesia: thoracic cavity, esp. if drain in place
intra-articular anaesthesia- joint
wound soaker catheters: finely fenestrated–>when you inject LA, goes along the length of the wound
LA- IV regional anaesthesia (Bier’s block)
useful in large animals
IV administration of lidocaine distal to a tourniquet
-desensitize distal limb e.g. digit amputation
LA- Peripheral nerve blocks
used diagnostically and therapeutically
-paravertebral, intercostal, brachial plexus, dental nerve blocks, etc
LA- epidural (extradural) block
to desensitize perineum, hindlimb and caudal abdomen
large animals: before 1st coccygeal (more distal than small animals)
small animals: lumbosacral junction
LA- systemic administration
IV infusion of lidocaine in very painful patients
NB: LIDOCAINE INFUSIONS CAN NOT BE GIVEN IN CATS
Physiology of LAs
RMP is -60 to -90 mV due to higher Na+ in ECF and higher K+ in ICF
Excitable cells generate an AP in response to membrane depolarisation. Voltage-gated Na+ channels open
Repolarisation involves: inactivation of Na+ channels and delayed opening of voltage-activated K+ channels
Na+/K+ pump
**LAs act by blocking Na+ channels–> prevents initation/conduction of APs **
Mechanism of LA action
LAs are weak bases. BH+ <–> B + H+
pH of environment; the charged form is active in LAs. Charged form is too big to fit into the channel.
LAs can access channel by passing through (uncharged) membrane and can diffuse into channel from there. LA must pick up an H+ from somewhere to become activated.
LAs and Na+ channels
Channels exist in 3 states: open, inactivated and closed
open and inactivated channels have a higher affinity for LA
Use dependence: LAs bind more readily to Na+ channels in an activated state, thus the onset of neuronal blocks is faster in neurons that are rapidly firing.
The hydrophilic pathway (i.e. drug has to go allw the way through the membrane and into the channel from inside the cell)–> more opportunity for drug to get into the channel. Hydrophillic pathway is use-dependent
The hydrophic pathway: drug goes INTO (not through) membrane and in membrane, goes direct to channel– non-use dependent.
Susceptibility to LAs
all nerve fibres are sensitive, howevere small myelinated and small unmyelinated fibres are more/most susceptible.
LA blocks pain impulses better than touch impulses
Selectively block pain pathways at lower doses–> doesn’t effect movement
LA Pharmacokinetics- Chemical structure
Lipophilic aromatic group attached to hydrophilic amine side chain by either ester (C-O) or amide (NH) link
Structure affects metabolism
LAs are generally ampiphillic- water soluble to diffuse to site of action and fat soluble to pass through membranes.