Deck 14: Drugs for Local and General Anaesthesia

Question 1

What is the purpose of adding sodium hydroxide to a local anaesthetic medicine?

A) To increase the duration of action
B) To preserve the product
C) To increase the drug's effectiveness in areas with extensive local infection or abscesses
D) To make the area more acidic

Answer 1

To increase the drug's effectiveness in areas with extensive local infection or abscesses

Question 2

A patient with a history of depression is having a thyroidectomy. The patient informs the pharmacist about the use of herbal remedies for depression. What drug would the anesthetist need to know about prior to surgery?

A) Saint John's Wort
B) Comfrey
C) Senna
D) Echinacea

Answer 2

Saint John's Wort

Question 3

A pharmacist is teaching a group of students about gases used for anesthesia. Which response by the students indicates understanding of the material?

A) Dibucaine is a gas used for anesthesia.
B) Dyclonine is a gas used for anesthesia.
C) Pramoxine is a gas used for anesthesia.
D) Nitrous oxide is a gas used for anesthesia.

Answer 3

Nitrous oxide is a gas used for anesthesia.

Question 4

The primary method(s) for achieving general anaesthesia is: (Select all that apply.) Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.

A) Intravenous
B) Inhaled
C) Topical
D) Oral

Question 5

The pharmacist is caring for a patient who is in a state of consciousness yet insensitive to pain and unaware of the surroundings, caused by combining the opioid fentanyl with the antipsychotic agent droperidol. What state of consciousness is this patient experiencing?

A) Neurolept analgesia
B) Surface analgesia
C) Dissociative analgesia
D) Regional analgesia

Question 6

The pharmacist is teaching a group of students about inhaled anesthetics. Which anesthetic would be incorrect if stated by the student?

A) Methoxyflurane
B) Isoflurane
C) Propofol
D) Halothane

Question 7

The nurse is preparing to administer thiopental to a patient. Which route of administration is correct?

A) Oral
B) Intravenous
C) Inhaled
D) Topical

Question 8

Which of the following are adjuncts to anaesthesia that are given prior to, during, or after surgery? (Select all that apply.) Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.

A) Propofol
B) Succinylcholine
C) Bethanechol
D) Halothane

Question 9

An epidural anesthetic is often given during labour.

Question 10

Cocaine, the first local anaesthetic widely used for medical procedures, was a natural amide type of anesthetic.

Question 11

Epinephrine is added to the anaesthetic solution to constrict the blood vessels in the immediate area in order to reduce bleeding in the area and increase the duration of action of the anesthetic.

Question 12

The goal of general anaesthesia is to provide slow and partial loss of sensation.

Question 13

IV agents are usually administered first during general anesthesia because they act within a few seconds.

Question 14

Paralysis of the medulla region in the brain responsible for controlling respiratory and cardiovascular activity occurs during stage 3 of anesthesia.

Question 15

Drugs used as IV anaesthetics include barbiturates, opioids, and benzodiazepines.

Question 16

Local anesthetics work by blocking potassium channels, causing loss of sensation in the area.

Question 17

Describe the five methods of local anesthesia and when they are used.

Question 18

List common adjuncts to surgery and why they are used.

Question 19

Describe the stages of anesthesia. How does the anaesthesiologist maintain the patient in stage 3? What stage needs to be avoided during surgery?