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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.
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...
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...
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...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia01:11

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia

Spinal anesthetics are given during lower abdomen and limb surgeries to block sensory and motor neurons. They are administered in the mid to low lumbar regions, primarily acting on the cauda equina's nerve roots. The blockade level depends on the local anesthetic (LA) concentration. Usually, low LA concentrations are sufficient to block sensory fibers, while only high LA concentrations block motor fibers. Other factors like injection volume and speed, the patient's posture, and the drug...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers
14:52

Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers

Published on: January 13, 2018

Anesthestic agents and status epilepticus.

Martin Smith1

  • 1Department of Neurocritical Care, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom. martin.smith@uclh.nhs.uk

Epilepsia
|October 5, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Treating refractory status epilepticus often involves intravenous anesthetic agents like midazolam and propofol. Aggressive treatment for EEG suppression may stop seizures but increases complications and mortality risks.

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Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers
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Published on: January 13, 2018

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Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Neurology
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) lacks clear guidelines for intravenous anesthetic agent selection.
  • Midazolam, propofol, and barbiturates are common, while inhalational agents and ketamine have limited use.
  • Current evidence guiding anesthetic choice for RSE is scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evidence for anesthetic agents in refractory status epilepticus.
  • To discuss the implications of aggressive treatment strategies aiming for EEG suppression.
  • To highlight common treatment-related complications and their impact on outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of anesthetic agents used in refractory status epilepticus.
  • Analysis of treatment approaches, including EEG suppression.
  • Examination of treatment-related side effects and their association with patient outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Intravenous anesthetic agents like midazolam, propofol, and barbiturates are frequently used for RSE.
  • Inhalational anesthetics are generally impractical, and non-GABA-ergic agents like ketamine have limited application.
  • Aggressive treatment targeting EEG suppression is more effective for seizure cessation but increases complications.

Conclusions:

  • Aggressive anesthetic strategies for RSE, while effective for seizure control, are linked to significant treatment-related complications.
  • Common side effects such as hypotension, gastric paresis, and pneumonia independently contribute to poor outcomes and mortality in RSE patients.
  • Further research is needed to establish optimal anesthetic management for RSE while minimizing adverse events.