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Chapter 21 - Pharmacological Agents in Anaesthetic Practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2022

By
Kathryn Newton ,
Peter Turton  and
Brian Corrin
Edited by
Daniel Rodger ,
Kevin Henshaw ,
Paul Rawling  and
Scott Miller
Daniel Rodger
Affiliation:
Senior Lecturer in Perioperative Practice, London South Bank University
Kevin Henshaw
Affiliation:
Associate Head of Allied Health Professions, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk
Paul Rawling
Affiliation:
Senior Lecturer in Perioperative Practice, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk
Scott Miller
Affiliation:
Consultant Anaesthetist, St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust
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Summary

The conduct of a general anaesthetic is more than just the administration of a drug to induce anaesthesia – a wide variety of agents are available, and they can be used pre-, intra-, and postoperatively. They will also be used for different purposes in different situations. This chapter discusses many of the common drugs used during a general anaesthetic, with a brief description of the effects, mechanism of action, and different routes of administration.

Keywords

AnaesthesiaLocal anaestheticIntravenousInhalationalVolatileMuscle relaxantAnalgesiaVasopressors,
Type
Chapter
Information
Fundamentals of Operating Department Practice , pp. 224 - 241
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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