Anesthesia Induction and Management

Induction of Anesthesia

• Anesthesia can be induced through inhaled or intravenous routes.
• Pharmacologic or verbal anxiolysis (e.g., benzodiazepines) can enhance patient comfort during induction.

Preoxygenation and Denitrogenation

• Preoxygenation, also known as denitrogenation, replaces nitrogen in the functional residual capacity (FRC) with oxygen.
• Techniques include:
  • Eight vital capacity breaths of 100% oxygen over 60 seconds.
  • Tidal volume breathing of 100% oxygen for 3 minutes.
• Both methods replace approximately 80% of the FRC with oxygen.

Importance of Preoxygenation

• Provides essential safety during episodes of apnea or upper airway obstruction when general anesthesia is induced.
• Delays or prevents the onset of hypoxemia between intravenous induction and the commencement of controlled ventilation.