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Related Concept Videos

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview01:24

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.
Stages of General Anesthesia01:22

Stages of General Anesthesia

Various sedation levels offer significant advantages in facilitating procedural interventions for patients undergoing medical or invasive surgical procedures. These levels span from anxiolysis to general anesthesia, providing a spectrum of sedative effects to cater to specific patient needs. Anxiolysis reduces anxiety and is achieved through minimal sedation, enabling patients to remain awake and responsive while feeling more at ease during the procedure. This level can benefit minor...
Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview01:23

Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview

Sedatives are drugs that alleviate anxiety, while hypnotics induce sleep. Both classes of medication suppress neuronal activity, leading to a calming effect for sedatives and facilitating sleep for hypnotics.
Sedative-hypnotics are categorized into barbiturates, benzodiazepines (BZDs), and non-benzodiazepines or Z-drugs. These drugs work by suppressing central nervous system activity, and this suppression is dose-dependent. Older sedative medications, like barbiturates, follow a linear curve in...
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents01:17

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses01:31

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses

Skeletal muscle relaxants are used to relax muscle tone and alleviate painful muscle contractions. However, the choice of skeletal muscle relaxants depends on the duration of the surgical procedure in order to minimize potential side effects. Skeletal muscle relaxants like neuromuscular blocking agents [NMBAs] are commonly employed as adjuvants alongside general anesthetics in clinical settings. NMBAs are also used to maintain controlled ventilation during surgery of the larynx or pharynx as...
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Barbiturates01:20

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Barbiturates

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a drug class that acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to alleviate anxiety, promote relaxation and induce sleep.These drugs function by amplifying the actions of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), resulting in reduced neuronal activity. Barbiturates, a subset of sedatives and hypnotics first synthesized in the late 1800s, are categorized into ultra-short, short, intermediate, and long-acting groups based on their duration of effect. A key...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Non-Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery
05:39

Non-Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

Published on: May 26, 2023

Palliative sedation.

Jorge H Eisenchlas1

  • 1Hospital B. Udaondo & Pallium Latinoamerica, Buenos Aires, Argentina. jeisen@fibertelcom.ar

Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care
|August 8, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Palliative sedation offers relief for refractory suffering in advanced illness when other methods fail. However, current research is limited, highlighting the urgent need for more evidence and standardized methodologies in palliative care.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Non-Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery
05:39

Non-Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

Published on: May 26, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Palliative Medicine
  • Medical Ethics
  • Clinical Research

Background:

  • Palliative care aims to relieve symptoms in advanced disease.
  • Some patients experience intractable suffering despite palliative interventions.
  • Palliative sedation is a controversial last resort for refractory suffering.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent literature on palliative sedation.
  • To examine definitions, indications, and drug use in palliative sedation.
  • To identify areas requiring further research.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent publications.
  • Analysis of definitions and reported indications.
  • Summary of current evidence and research gaps.

Main Results:

  • A significant lack of robust evidence exists for palliative sedation.
  • Existing literature comprises expert opinions and retrospective reports, with few prospective studies.
  • Confusing terminology, unclear indications, and lack of comparative studies hinder scientific advancement.

Conclusions:

  • Consensus and innovative research methodologies are crucial for advancing knowledge in palliative sedation.
  • Further research is needed to clarify definitions, indications, outcomes, and drug effectiveness.
  • Addressing these research gaps is essential for optimizing palliative sedation practices.