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Questions and Answers
What is the primary goal of general anesthesia?
What is the primary goal of general anesthesia?
Which of the following is a type of general anesthesia?
Which of the following is a type of general anesthesia?
What is the term for the process of reversing the effects of general anesthesia?
What is the term for the process of reversing the effects of general anesthesia?
What is the primary role of an anesthesiologist during surgery?
What is the primary role of an anesthesiologist during surgery?
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What is the term for the state of being in a conscious but sedated state during surgery?
What is the term for the state of being in a conscious but sedated state during surgery?
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Study Notes
General Anaesthesia
- General anaesthesia is a state of controlled unconsciousness, amnesia, and immobility, with a lack of response to surgical stimuli.
- The ideal anaesthetic agent should have a rapid onset and offset of action, be easy to administer, and have minimal side effects.
Mechanism of Action
- General anaesthetics act on the spinal cord and brain, altering neuronal function and synaptic transmission.
- They influence the activity of ion channels, neurotransmitters, and receptors, leading to a decrease in neural activity.
Stages of Anaesthesia
- Stage 1: Anaesthesia is induced, and the patient becomes disoriented and confused.
- Stage 2: The patient becomes unconscious and loses reflexes, but still responds to painful stimuli.
- Stage 3: Surgical anaesthesia, characterized by unconsciousness, amnesia, and immobility.
- Stage 4: Medullary paralysis, a state of deep anaesthesia, where the patient is unresponsive and may experience respiratory depression.
Induction of Anaesthesia
- Induction agents, such as propofol, etomidate, and ketamine, are used to induce anaesthesia.
- The choice of induction agent depends on the patient's condition, the type of surgery, and the anaesthetist's preference.
Maintenance of Anaesthesia
- Maintenance agents, such as halothane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane, are used to maintain anaesthesia.
- The minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) is the concentration of anaesthetic required to prevent movement in response to surgical stimuli.
Side Effects and Complications
- Respiratory depression, cardiovascular depression, and allergic reactions are potential side effects of general anaesthesia.
- Malignant hyperthermia is a rare but life-threatening complication of general anaesthesia.
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Description
Understand the concept of general anaesthesia, its ideal properties, and its mechanism of action on the spinal cord and brain.
