Learning unit: General anaesthetics

Impact of the learning unit
General anaesthetics are ranked among basic drug groups and the understanding of them is necessary
for each student of medicine: general anaesthesia, characterised by loss of consciousness and non-p
erception of pain in the whole body, enables doctors to carry out painful surgical or diagnostic pr
ocedures. The knowledge of the individual substances, their pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic pr
operties, typical adverse effects, indications and contraindications, is considered to be the basic
 knowledge of each student of medicine.

Important terms


general anaesthetics

                inhalational anaesthetics

                               MAC (minimum alveolar concentration)

                               volatile anaesthetic liquids

                                                ethers (               diethylether)

                                               halogenated hydrocarbons

                                                               isoflurane

                                                               sevoflurane

                                                               desflurane

                               anaesthetic gases

                                               nitrous oxide

                                               xenon

                intravenous anaesthetics

                               MIR (minimum infusion rate)

                               TIVA (total i.v. anaesthesia)

                               barbiturates

                                               thiopental
                               nonbarbiturate anesthetics

                                               ketamine

                                               propofol

                                               etomidate

opioids used in anaesthesiology

                fentanyl

                alfentanil

                sufentanil

                remifentanil

benzodiazepines used in anaesthesiology

                diazepam

                midazolam

balanced general anaesthesia

combined general anaesthesia

course of anaesthesia

                premedication

                               prokinetics/antiemetics

                               hypnosedatives/anxiolytics

                               antihistaminics/anticholinergics

                induction of general anaesthesia (GA)

                maintenance of GA

                termination of GA

                               decurazation (reversal agents for curarimimetic myorelaxants)

                                               acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

                                                sugammadex

                               naloxone

                               flumazenil

risks and complications of GA

                malignant hyperthermia

                               dantrolene


Learning outcomes



Student knows basic pharmacological profile (mode of action, unwanted effects, indications and
contraindications) of general anaesthetic agents.


Student defines individual stages of general anaesthesia.


Student explains classification of general anaesthetics according to route of administration
(inhalational, intravenous).


Student knows drug groups used in the premedication before general anaesthesia and gives examples
of agents.


Student selects appropriate premedication for a model patient based on the symptomatology.





Study materials


Rang & Dale's Pharmacology, 8th edition, 2016, chapter  41, pp. 498-508 (General anaesthetic
agents)


Study materials for courses aVLFA0721p and aVLFA0721c.


Exam questions

Special pharmacology:  16. General anesthetics

Essential drugs: 46. desflurane, 47. propofol, 48. ketamine