Overview NMBAs facilitate intubation, mechanical ventilation, and surgical relaxation. Categories of NMBAs Category Examples Depolarizing Succinylcholine Non-depolarizing Atracurium, Cisatracurium, Rocuronium, Vecuronium Agent ED 95 (mg/kg) Intubating Dose (mg/kg) Onset (min Duration to 25% recovery (min) Intra-op maintenance Metabolism and Excretion…
Local Anaesthetics Local anesthetics provide analgesia and anaesthesia by disrupting the conduction of impulses along nerve fibers. They block voltage-gated Na+, thus inhibiting the influx of sodium and preventing an action potential from being reached. They are weak bases in…
Overview IV induction agents target GABA receptors (most common), NMDA receptors, and alpha-2 receptors to cause anaesthesia. Propofol and Barbiturates decrease the rate of dissociation of GABA from its receptors increasing the duration of chloride channel opening. Benzodiazepines facilitate the…
Overview Historically there have been several accounts of the use of various forms of anesthesia from cannabis and other herbs to carotid compression. The earliest account of modern anesthesia was in the 1840s when ether was used to excise a…
Overview Sickle cell disease is caused by a point mutation in the beta-globin gene found in chromosome 11. It results in a substitution of glutamine to valine at position 6, leading to the formation of the abnormal hemoglobin S. Sickle…
Overview Meningitis is a life-threatening infection of the meninges. Acute bacterial meningitis: rapid onset of Sx, identified by routine laboratory techniques Chronic meningitis: ongoing Sx of meningitis for ≥ 4 weeks without clinical improvement Aseptic meningitis: Sx of meningitis without…
Overview Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium spp. It is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, particularly in children < 5yo in Kenya. Plasmodium falciparum is the MCC of malaria. A parasitological dx of malaria…
Overview Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden unexplained death of a child under the age of 1 year. It occurs while sleeping or while the child is assumed to be aspleep. Keep an eye out especially between 1-6…
Pneumonia is still the leading killer of children worldwide (29% of pediatric deaths worldwide, 158 million cases per year; 3 million deaths per year). The death rates in underdeveloped countries is 2000x that of children in developed countries. Viral causes…
Bronchiolitis is an infectious, inflammatory process of the bronchioles. Primarily a disease of the very young (95% of cases occur in children < 2 years old). Always viral. Most commony caused by the Respiratory syncitial virus (RSV). Other causes include…