Anesthetic Pharmacology Flashcards

Which reversal agent is used to antagonize opioid-induced respiratory depression?

Answer: Naloxone (Narcan)

Naloxone is a pure opioid antagonist that competitively displaces opioids from mu, kappa, and delta receptors, rapidly reversing respiratory depression.

Propofol (Diprivan) produces sedation by:

Answer: Potentiating GABA-A receptor chloride ion channel activity

Propofol enhances inhibitory neurotransmission by potentiating GABA-A receptors, producing dose-dependent sedation, hypnosis, and anesthesia.

Dexmedetomidine (Precedex) produces sedation via which mechanism?

Answer: Alpha-2 adrenoreceptor agonism in the CNS

Dexmedetomidine is a highly selective alpha-2 adrenoreceptor agonist that produces sedation, analgesia, and anxiolysis without significant respiratory depression.

Which local anesthetic has the longest clinical duration of action?

Answer: Bupivacaine (Marcaine)

Bupivacaine provides the longest duration (up to 8 to 12 hours with epinephrine) and is used when prolonged postoperative analgesia is desired.

Propofol should NOT be used without careful evaluation in a patient with a severe allergy to:

Answer: Eggs and soy

Propofol lipid emulsion contains egg lecithin and soybean oil. Patients with severe egg or soy allergy require careful evaluation before propofol administration.

The mechanism by which local anesthetics produce nerve block is:

Answer: Blocking voltage-gated sodium channels from the intracellular side, preventing action potential propagation

Local anesthetics bind to the intracellular face of voltage-gated sodium channels, stabilizing them in the inactivated state and preventing action potential generation and propagation.