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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...
Inhaled Medications01:23

Inhaled Medications

Inhaled medications are crucial for managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. They are essential for effective treatment and control, ensuring optimal respiratory health and well-being. Inhaled medication delivers drugs directly to the lungs, providing a rapid onset of action and reducing systemic side effects compared to oral or injectable medications. Three primary types of inhalation devices are used to administer these medications: nebulizers, metered-dose inhalers...
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...
Nondepolarizing (Competitive) Neuromuscular Blockers: Pharmacokinetics01:11

Nondepolarizing (Competitive) Neuromuscular Blockers: Pharmacokinetics

All neuromuscular blocking agents are injected intravenously because they are poorly absorbed from the GI tract. Rapid onset is achieved with intravenous administration, although absorption is also adequate from an intramuscular injection. Since these agents are highly ionized, they do not readily penetrate cell membranes or cross the blood-brain barrier.
Instead, they are transported by the blood to different tissues. Muscles with a greater blood supply (arteries) and blood flow receive more...

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Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

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Same author

[Anesthetic complications in a rehabilitation hospital: is the incidence related to the pre-anesthetic visit?].

Revista brasileira de anestesiologia·2014
Same author

Nitrous oxide use in children.

Revista brasileira de anestesiologia·2012
Same author

Incidence of regional pain syndrome after carpal tunnel release. Is there a correlation with the anesthetic technique?

Revista brasileira de anestesiologia·2011
Same author

Effect of isolated anticonvulsant drug use and associated to midazolam as pre-anesthetic medication on the Bispectral Index (BIS) in patients with cerebral palsy.

Revista brasileira de anestesiologia·2010
Same author

Epidural lumbar block or lumbar plexus block combined with general anesthesia: efficacy and hemodynamic effects on total hip arthroplasty.

Revista brasileira de anestesiologia·2009
Same author

Postoperative analgesia for the surgical correction of congenital clubfoot: comparison between peripheral nerve block and caudal epidural block.

Revista brasileira de anestesiologia·2009

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

In Vitro Method to Control Concentrations of Halogenated Gases in Cultured Alveolar Epithelial Cells
04:56

In Vitro Method to Control Concentrations of Halogenated Gases in Cultured Alveolar Epithelial Cells

Published on: October 23, 2018

[Immobility: essential inhalational anesthetics action.].

Leonardo Teixeira Domingues Duarte1, Renato Angelo Saraiva

  • 1Rede Sarah de Hospitais do Aparelho Locomotor.

Revista Brasileira De Anestesiologia
|May 28, 2009
PubMed
Summary

General anesthesia immobility is mainly achieved through spinal cord actions of inhaled anesthetics. These agents affect motor neuron excitability and nociceptive neurons, influencing synaptic transmission for surgical immobility.

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Application of Dixon's Up-and-Down Design to Estimate the Minimum Alveolar Concentration of Sevoflurane in Rats with Refined Movement Classification
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In Vitro Method to Control Concentrations of Halogenated Gases in Cultured Alveolar Epithelial Cells
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Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology

Context:

  • Immobility is crucial for general anesthesia, with Minimum Alveolar Concentration (MAC) quantifying anesthetic potency.
  • The spinal cord is the primary site for anesthetic-induced immobility, yet cellular mechanisms remain incompletely understood.
  • Inhaled anesthetics act on the central nervous system at macroscopic, microscopic, and molecular levels.

Purpose:

  • To critically evaluate studies identifying the sites and mechanisms of inhaled anesthetics' action in producing immobility.
  • To synthesize current knowledge on how inhaled anesthetics achieve immobility through spinal cord pathways.

Summary:

  • Inhaled anesthetics primarily induce immobility via spinal cord mechanisms, affecting motor neuron excitability and dorsal horn nociceptive neurons.
  • Anesthetic actions on specific receptors, including glycine, AMPA, and 5-HT2A, modulate synaptic transmission.
  • Voltage-gated sodium channels are also implicated in the anesthetic effects on neuronal function.

Impact:

  • Provides a comprehensive overview of inhaled anesthetic mechanisms for immobility.
  • Highlights the critical role of the spinal cord in anesthetic-induced immobility.
  • Informs future research on anesthetic drug development and targeted therapeutic strategies.