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Related Concept Videos

Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview01:20

Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview

Inhalation anesthetics are drugs that induce general anesthesia upon inhalation. They work by increasing the sensitivity of GABAA receptors or inhibiting NMDA receptors, leading to a decrease in central nervous system activity. The depth of anesthesia can be rapidly adjusted by changing the concentration of the inhaled gas. Some common examples of inhalational anesthetics include volatile liquids like isoflurane, desflurane, sevoflurane and gases like xenon and nitrous oxide. Isoflurane, a...
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...
Local Anesthetics: Common Agents and Their Applications01:23

Local Anesthetics: Common Agents and Their Applications

Local anesthetics (LAs) are commonly used for various applications in medical and dental procedures. Some of the common agents used are cocaine, lidocaine, and bupivacaine.
Cocaine is an ester of benzoic acid and methylecgogine. It is used to anesthetize and vasoconstrict locally. Currently, it is used primarily for topical applications. It is beneficial for surgeries on the upper respiratory tract, providing anesthesia and shrinking the mucosa. Cocaine in the form of cocaine hydrochloride is...
General Anesthesia: Overview01:24

General Anesthesia: Overview

Anesthesia is a medical procedure that uses drugs for CNS suppression to enable painless surgeries and procedures. The selection of anesthetics is influenced by their pharmacokinetic properties, side effects, and patient characteristics. Various types of anesthesia include general, local, regional, spinal, and inhalational.
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...
Additional Routes of Drug Administration01:18

Additional Routes of Drug Administration

Choosing the appropriate route of drug administration is significantly influenced by two key factors: the therapeutic objectives and the inherent properties of the drug being used.
Administering drugs via inhalation allows for the direct delivery of gaseous, volatile substances or droplets to different parts of the respiratory tract. One of the advantages of the inhalation route is the rapid absorption of drugs into the circulatory system, which is possible because of the large surface area of...

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Use of a Low-flow Digital Anesthesia System for Mice and Rats
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Update on inhalational anaesthetics.

Stefan G De Hert1, Benedikt Preckel, Wolfgang S Schlack

  • 1Division of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anaesthesiology, Department of Anaesthesiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. s.g.dehert@amc.uva.nl

Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology
|April 17, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Inhalational anesthetics offer organ protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury. Emerging clinical data suggest potential patient benefits, but further research is needed to confirm long-term outcomes.

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Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Organ Transplantation

Background:

  • Inhalational anesthetic agents are fundamental in modern anesthesia.
  • Current agents are effective with a good safety profile.
  • These agents exhibit organ-protective properties against ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on the organ-protective effects of inhalational anesthetics.
  • To explore the mechanisms and clinical relevance of these protective properties.
  • To discuss the potential of noble gases like xenon and helium in this context.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent experimental and clinical studies.
  • Analysis of mechanisms underlying organ protection.
  • Evaluation of perioperative data from various organ systems.

Main Results:

  • Inhalational anesthetics demonstrate protective effects against ischemia-reperfusion injury in experimental models.
  • Initial clinical studies, particularly in cardiac surgery, show encouraging results.
  • Noble gases (xenon, helium) share these properties and offer therapeutic potential.

Conclusions:

  • Experimental evidence supports the organ-protective role of inhalational anesthetics.
  • Clinical data suggest potential for improved organ function, but further investigation is required.
  • Long-term postoperative outcomes need to be assessed to fully understand the clinical impact.