NEET MDS Lessons
Pharmacology
Methadone
Pharmacology and analgesic potency similar to morphine.
- Very effective following oral administration.
- Longer duration of action than morphine due to plasma protein binding (t1/2 approximately 25 hrs).
- Used in methadone maintenance programs for drug addicts and for opiate withdrawal. Opiate withdrawal is more prolonged but is less intense than it is following morphine or heroin.
Neurophysiology
Nerve fibers exhibit wide range of sensitivity to nerve blockade-in order of increasing resistance to block are the sensations of pain, cold, warmth, touch, pressure, proprioception and motor function
Nerve Fibers:
|
Types |
Size |
Speed |
Occurrence |
|
A (α) |
20 µm |
80 - 120 |
Myelinated (Primarily for muscular activity). |
|
β |
8 - 15 µm |
|
Myelinated (Touch and pressure) |
|
γ |
4 - 8 µm |
|
Myelinated (Muscle spindle tone) |
|
δ |
3 - 4 µm |
10-15 |
Myelinated (Pain and temperature sensation) |
|
B |
4 µm |
10-15 |
Myelinated (Preganglionic autonomic) |
|
C |
1-2 µm |
1 - 2 |
Unmyelinated (Pain and temperature sensation) |
Myelinated = faster conducting
Unmyelinated = slower conducting
- Small non-myelinated fibers (C- pain fibers) and smaller myelinated pre-ganglionic B fibers are more readily blocked than are larger myelinated fibers responsible for muscle activity and touch [A-alpha and A-beta].
- Clinically, a person would notice complete lack of sensation to a pinprick, while at the same time still be able to move their fingers.
Types of Neurons (Function)
•There are 3 general types of neurons (nerve cells):
1-Sensory (Afferent ) neuron:A neuron that detects changes in the external or internal environment and sends information about these changes to the CNS. (e.g: rods and cones, touch receptors). They usually have long dendrites and relatively short axons.
2-Motor (Efferent) neuron:A neuron located within the CNS that controls the contraction of a muscle or the secretion of a gland. They usually have short dendrites and long axons.
2-Interneuron or association neurons: A neuron located entirely within the CNS in which they form the connecting link between the afferent and efferent neurons. They have short dendrites and may have either a short or long axon.
Eicosanoid compounds
Prostaglandines, Leukotriens and Thromboxanes.
They are produced in minute amounts by all cells except RBCs and they act locally at the same site of synthesis.
These agents have many physiological processes as mediators and modulators of inflammatory reactions.
Operator position
For the right-handed operator, the 8 and 10 o’clock position and for left-handed operators, the corresponding 2 and 4 o’clock position almost always allows for optimal visualization of the injection field.
Ketorolac
Mechanism of action
primary action responsible for its anti-inflammatory/antipyretic/analgesic effects is inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis through inhibition of the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX). Ketorolac is not a selective inhibitor of COX enzymes
Indications: short-term management of pain
Contraindications
hypersensitivity to ketorolac, and against patients with the complete or partial syndrome of nasal polyps, angioedema, bronchospastic reactivity or other allergic manifestations to aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (due to possibility of severe anaphylaxis).
VITAMIN -K
- Group of lipophilic, hydrophobic vitamins.
- Needed for the post-translational modification of coagulation proteins.
- Phylloquinone (vitamin K1) is the major dietary form of vitamin K.
- Vitamin K2 (menaquinone, menatetrenone) is produced by bacteria in the intestines.