Anesthesia Pharmacology: General Anesthesia
Clinical Case Questions
Click on the correct answer.
A 25 year-old woman was admitted in profound shock following a motor vehicle accident.
On arrival at the emergency room she was wearing mast trousers and had an auscultatory blood-pressure of 60/40.
An IV was immediately started in the right jugular vein. Abdominal paracentesis revealed gross blood, indicating rupture of one or more abdominal viscera.
An immediate laparotomy was obviously indicated.
case author: Hugh S. Mathewson, M.D., Professor Emeritus, School of Allied Health, Department of Nurse Anesthesia, University of Kansas Medical Center
case editor: Michael Gordon, Ph.D.
Which IV induction agent is the safest?
thiopental (Pentothal)
propofol (Diprivan)
etomidate (Amidate)
ketamine (Ketalar)
Would induction by inhalation (nitrous oxide/isoflurane (Forane)) be safer because it could be titrated more accurately?
yes
no
Are there undesirable pharmacologic features of ketamine (Ketalar) induction?