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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...
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...
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...
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.
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia01:29

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia

Epidural anesthetics are administered in the fat-filled epidural space, the outermost part of the spinal canal. This technique is commonly employed for pain management and anesthesia during lower abdomen and pelvis surgeries or labor and delivery.
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention
08:49

Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention

Published on: October 16, 2013

Anaesthetic medicines: back to basics.

Felicia Cox1, Nisha Bhudia

  • 1Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, Department of Pain Management, Harefield Hospital, Middlesex UB9 6JH.

Journal of Perioperative Practice
|January 1, 2010
PubMed
Summary

This review explores anesthetic and analgesic medications used in patient care. It details pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, administration routes, and drug classes for anesthesia.

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Anesthesia has evolved significantly from early agents like curare.
  • Numerous anesthetic and analgesic medications are now available.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of medications in the perioperative journey.
  • To describe the importance of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in anesthesia.
  • To outline the main categories of anesthetic drugs and their characteristics.

Main Methods:

  • Review of anesthetic and analgesic medications.
  • Description of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles.
  • Outline of different administration routes.
  • Categorization of anesthetic drugs.

Main Results:

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Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention
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  • Anesthetic and analgesic drugs are crucial throughout the perioperative period.
  • Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics significantly influence drug effects.
  • Various administration routes and drug classes exist, each with specific properties.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding anesthetic drug classes, administration, and their pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profiles is essential for safe patient care.
  • This review provides a comprehensive overview for healthcare professionals involved in anesthesia.