Knowledge
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A collection of the top 20 most cited pediatric anesthesiology papers of all time from Ravi Tripathi's excellent 2011 study:
Tripathi, R. A bibliometric search of citation classics in anesthesiology. BMC Anesthesiol. 2011 Jan 1;11:24.
These are probably 20 articles that every anaesthetist or anesthesiologist with even a small component of pediatric practice should be aware of – not necessarily because they are still practice changing, but because they our foundational to our current understanding and practice of pediatric anesthesia.
These articles help to both show where we have come from, and where we may be heading.
summary
...and 2 more notes
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A. Physiochemistry
- Semi-synthetic thebaine derivative (like oxycodone).
- Partial µ-agonist.
B. Pharmacokinetics
- Dose: 0.5 mg q6h IV/IM
- 30x morphine potency
- 200mcg-400mcg sublingual qid for analgesia
- Absorption - IV, IM, s/l, epidural (po undesirable as ++ 1st pass met)
- Distribution - 3 L/kg
- Protein binding - 96%
- Onset 30 min; Offset 4 h (longer latency & duration than morph)
- Metabolism - ß½ 5 h; hepatic dealkylation & glucuronidation. Excreted in bile & hydrolysed by GIT bacteria.
- Clearance - 14 mL/min/kg (dec 30% by GA)
C. Pharmacodynamics
- Mechanism: µ partial agonist.
- 50x greater mu rec affinity than morphine.
- May be used to treat heroin/morphine dependence.
- Greater lipid solubility than morphine.
- Ceiling effect to both analgesia & respiratory depression.
- Long duration as slow to dissociate from receptor & thus difficult to reverse.
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Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic & potent analgesic.
- "Dissociative anaesthesia" refers to dissociation of thalamocortical and limbic systems on the EEG.
A. Physiochemistry
- phenylcyclidine (PCP) derivative
- pKa 7.5, weak acid (like thiopentone 60% nonionised @ pH 7.4)
- highly lipid soluble (4x thio)
- ampoule: 200 mg in 2 mL
- acidic solution of i) ketamine hydrochloride with ii) benzethonium chloride (preservative - neurotoxic !)
- 2 optical isomers - S(+)d ketamine has i) more rapid emergence due to higher metab, ii) less emergence SEs, iii) less cardiac depression, iv) 3x analgesic potency.
B. Pharmacokinetics
- Dose - 1.5-2 mg/kg IV, 10 mg/kg IM
- oral premed: 6-7 mg/kg po (15-30 min onset)
- Rx: asthma 20 mcg/kg/min
- analgesia: 0.1-0.3 mg/kg/h (no dysphoria @ 0.1, sometimes pleasant dreams @ 0.2 mg/kg/h). -[HPH 400mg in 50mL]
- TIVA: 10-50 mcg/kg/min
- Absorption - IV, IM, oral or PR
- Distribution - 8 L/kg
- Protein binding - 25% (thiopentone 75%, propofol 98%)
- Onset IV: 45-60s, peak 60s; IM: 3-5 min; Offset 15-30 min
- Metabolism - alpha∆ 11 min, ß ∆ 2.5 h. Hepatic p450 to N-demethylation to norketamine, hydroxylated to hydroxynorketamine, conjugated to water sol glucuronide derivatives.
- Norketamine has 1/5 activity of ketamine (? post-op S/Es).
- Clearance - 18 mL/kg/min (prop 25, thio 4 mL/kg/min)
C. Pharmacodynamics
- Mech - non-competitive NMDA antagonism (PCP site on NR1 subunit); anti-muscarinic; anti-monaminergic; inhibits peripheral reuptake of catecholamines; S+ enantiomer has some mu receptor activity; inhibits NO synthesis; inh non-NMDA glutamate rec.
- CNS - analgesia, amnesia, dissociative anaesthetic (thalamocortical - limbic system); inc CBF, CMRO2, ICP & IOP.
- CVS - direct cardiac depressant, but inc SNS outflow - inc CO, HR, MAP. Variable Vc & Vd.
- Resp - unaltered response to CO2; bronchodilator; inc salivary secretions; airway reflexes intact.
- GIT- inc BSL
- SEs - PONV, emergence delerium, ++ secretions, uterine hypertonicity at > 1.5 mg/kg
- Interactions - halothane prolongs duration by delaying its redistribution and metabolism.
Ketamine produces a dissociative state (unconsciousness where in cataleptic state, disconnected from surroundings associated with functional and electrophysiological dissociation between thalamo-neocortical and limbic system)
- Characteristically : eye open, slow nystagmus, varying purposeful movement and hypertonus unrelated to stimuli
- Advantages: sympathetic stimulation with preservation of BP esp in hypovolaemic state, preservation of airway reflexes, bronchodilation and intense analgesia
- Disadvantages: can theoretically precipitate myocardial ischaemia (increasing both workload and O2 requirements) increases CBF, increases PVR, emergence delirium (also anaesthetic end-point unclear and uncontrolled movements).
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Modern cuffed endotracheal tubes are a superior airway device for children and neonates, offering better ventilation mechanics, fewer tube changes, and fewer short-term respiratory complications, with no clinically significant downside.
pearl