Example of an Inhalational anesthesia?

NIMHANS Nursing Officer - 2021

Pharmacology

Easy

Appeared in: NIMHANS Nursing Officer - 2021

Explanation

Sevoflurane is classified as a volatile inhalational anesthetic agent.
It is a liquid at room temperature that requires a specific vaporizer to be delivered to the patient as a vapor through a breathing circuit.
Due to its low airway irritability and pleasant smell, it is one of the most common agents used for mask induction of general anesthesia, particularly in the pediatric population.
It provides hypnosis (unconsciousness), amnesia (loss of memory), and some degree of analgesia and muscle relaxation.

Option A: Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic, not an inhalational agent. Its primary routes of administration are intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM).
Option C: Methohexital is an ultra-short-acting barbiturate. It is administered exclusively intravenously, typically for the induction of anesthesia or for brief procedures.
Option D: Thiopental is a short-acting barbiturate anesthetic agent. Like methohexital, it is administered intravenously for the induction of general anesthesia.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification of Anesthetic Agents as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses, especially in perioperative settings (OR, PACU), must know the type and route of each anesthetic to prepare the correct equipment (e.g., vaporizer vs. IV pump), anticipate onset of action, and monitor for specific side effects.
A critical nursing responsibility when a patient receives a volatile inhalational anesthetic like sevoflurane is to monitor for signs of Malignant Hyperthermia (MH), a rare but life-threatening complication. Key signs include a rapid rise in end-tidal CO2, tachycardia, muscle rigidity, and hyperthermia.
What if? If a patient presents for emergency surgery with a 'full stomach' (not fasted), an inhalational induction with sevoflurane would be contraindicated due to the risk of aspiration. Instead, a rapid sequence induction (RSI) using an intravenous agent like propofol or ketamine would be the standard of care to secure the airway quickly.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which is to find an 'inhalational' anesthetic from the given list.
This is a factual recall question that relies on your knowledge of pharmacology and the classification of anesthetic drugs.
Mentally or on paper, classify each option by its primary route of administration for anesthesia.
Recall or deduce that Ketamine, Methohexital, and Thiopental are all administered intravenously.
Identify Sevoflurane as a volatile agent that is inhaled.
Select Sevoflurane as the correct answer that fits the category specified in the question.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Pharmacology Katzung 16e pp. 692-694, 715-717

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 712-714