The document provides an overview of general anesthesia (GA), detailing its characteristics, mechanisms of action, stages, classification, and specific agents used in GA. It differentiates GA from local anesthesia (LA), outlines the pharmacological effects of various anesthetics, including inhalation and parenteral options, and discusses their respective advantages and side effects. The document also references medical texts for further reading on pharmacology.

1. General Anaesthesia
Yogeeta goyat
M. Pharma (ist year)
Pharmacology

2. Introduction:
• GA’s are the drugs which causes reversible loss of all sensation and
consciousness.
• Combination of medications that is given before a surgery or other
medical procedure.
• Induce sleep like state.

3.  Ideal GA should cause:
• Sedation and reduction of anxiety
• Lack of awareness and amnesia
• Skeletal muscle relaxation
• Suppression of undesirable reflexes
• Analgesia

4.  Difference between GA and LA:
DESCRIPTION GA LA
Site of action CNS PNS
Area of body involved Whole body Restricted area
consciousness lost Unaltered
Major surgery preferred Cant be used
Minor surgery Cant be used Preferred
Poor health patient risky safer

5.  MECHANISM OF ACTION OF GENERAL
ANAESTHETICS
• GABA –A receptor: Potentiated by Halothane, Propofol, Etomidate ,
Enflurane, isoflurane, Desflurane, sevoflurane
• NMDA receptors: Inhibited by Ketamine, nitrous oxide and xenon
• Glycine receptors: Potentiated by Halothane, Propofol, Enflurane,
isoflurane, Desflurane, sevoflurane Also has effect on neuronal
nicotinic receptors and 5-HT3 receptors

6. Stages of GA
Stages in general anaesthesia Body reaction
1. Stage of analgesia Patient remain conscious but drowsy
2. Stage of delirium Patient loss consciousness,
increased sympathetic activity,
increased heart rate, blood pressure,
dilated pupil, increased muscle tone,
irregular breathing
3. Stage of anesthesia 1.Roving eyes
2.Loss of corneal and laryngeal reflexes
3.Pupil starts dilating, light reflux lost
4.Intercoastal paralysis, dilated pupil
4. Stage of medullary paralysis Depressed respiratory and vasomotor
center
Death occurs within few minutes.

7. Classification:
• inhalation
• Parenteral
gas
• Nitrous oxide
ether
• Ether, halothane, desflurane, isoflurane, enflurane.
inducing
• Thiopentone, propofol, etomidate
Slow-acting drug
• Benzodiazepines: diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam
• Dissociative anesthesia: ketamine
• Opioids: fentanyl.

8.  Inhalation anaesthesia
1.Nitrous oxide
• Nitrous oxide is completely eliminated by the lungs.
• Non toxic to liver , kidney and brain.
• No much adverse effects on CVS , respiratory system.
• Probably the safest with 30% oxygen.
• N2O is a weak, low potency anesthetic agent.
• Action is quick and smooth .
• Recovery is rapid. Rarely exceeds 4 min

9. • It is a poor muscle Relaxant.
• It has significant analgesic effects.
• Nitrous oxide is used primarily as an adjunct to other inhalational or
intravenous anesthetics mainly during maintenance phase.
• 70% N2O +25-30% oxy + 0.2-2% potent anaesthetic
• Adverse effects
• Pneumothorax.
• Megaloblastic anaemia
• peripheral neuropathy (because of methionine synthetase
inactivation

10. 2. Halothane
• Induction is relatively slow.
• Halothane is soluble in fat and other body tissues, it will accumulate
during prolonged administration.
• Halothane can sensitize the myocardium to the arrhythmogenic effects
of Adrenaline
• Uses : Induction and maintenance anaesthesia in pediatric age group.
Maintenance anaesthesia in adults

11. 3.Enflurane
• Induction of anaesthesia and recovery from enflurane are
relatively slow.
• It is primarily utilized for maintenance rather than induction of
anaesthesia.
• Enflurane provokes seizure attacks in susceptible patients.
• Enflurane produces significant skeletal muscle relaxation

12. 4.Isoflurane
• Induction with isoflurane and recovery from isoflurane are faster
than with halothane.
• It is typically used for maintenance of anesthesia after induction
with other agents because of its pungent odor. Another e.g,
Desflurane.
Disadvantage
Slightly irritant, it is costly.

13.  Parenteral anaesthesia:
Thiopental:
• It is an ultra short acting barbiturates.
• Consciousness regained within 10-20 mins by redistribution to
skeletal muscle.
• It is eliminated slowly from the body by metabolism and produce
hang over.
• It can be used for rapid control of seizures.
• Main side effect are Cardiovascular and respiratory depression

14. Propofol :
• Most commonly used IV anaesthetic
• Unconsciousness achieved in 45 seconds and lasts 15 minutes
• Anti-emetic in action
• Non-irritant to airways
• Suited for day care surgery (residual impairment is less marked)
• Side effect: Cvs and respiratory depression and pain at site of injction
administration(Pain during injection, Fall in BP)

15. Ketamine :
• Dissociative anaesthesia
• Produce - profound analgesia, immobility, amnesia with light sleep.
• Acts by blocking NMDA receptors
• Heart rate and BP are elevated due to sympathetic stimulation
• Respiration is not depressed and reflexes are not abolished.

16. • Ketamine
• Emergence delirium, hallucinations and involuntary movements occurs
during recovery (can be minimized by diazepam or midazolam).
• It is useful for burn dressing and trauma surgery.
• Dangerous for hypertensive and IHD patients.
• Side effect: Psychotomimetic effect following recovery, post operative
nausea , vomiting, salivation

17. References:
• Essential of medical Pharmacology, K.D. TRIPATHI, 7TH Edition, chapter
9, page 365-379
• Lippincott illustrated reviews: Pharmacology, 6th Edition, chapter 6,
page-
• Medical Pharmacology by Padmaja Udaykumar, revised 4th edition,
chapter .

18. Thank you