General Principle of Surgical Anesthesiology

[Lorenzo]

Mandatory information for Surgical interns, anesthesiology intern, surgical nurses, nurse anesthetists etc.


CNS drugs must be lipid soluble (cross the bbb- blood brain barrier) or be actively transported

Drugs with decreased solubility in blood = rapid induction and recovery times.

Drugs with increased solubility in blood = increased potency = 1 / MAC

   where MAC = Minimal alveolar concentration


Examples: N20 has low blood and lipid solubility, and thus fast induction and low potency. Halothane , in contrast, has increased lipid and blood solubility, and thus high potency and slow induction.