Ideal agents
Image via Wikipedia What are the properties of the ideal intravenous/inhalational anaesthetic agent?
We’re not sure whether this is a popular question, in and of itself anymore, but we certainly advise you to be wary of the question which goes along these lines:
What’s your favourite inhalation agent/intravenous induction agent?
And how does that compare with the qualities you’d like to see in an ideal anaesthetic agent?
OR
And how does that compare with X (being another agent of the same class)?
Now, obviously you should pick your favourite agent very carefully, and make sure you know plenty about it.
For example, if you choose propofol you must know it’s physical properties, mode of presentation, administration, doses for adults and paediatric patients, effects and side-effects, probable mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and its use in TIVA. For this kind of information we’d refer you to this book: Pharmacology for Anaesthesia and Intensive Care by Tom Peck and Sue Hill.
However, we did come across this little article about Ideal Agents, written by a couple of FRCAs back in 2003 in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Journal. Interestingly, even the Surgical-Tutor website has something to say about the Ideal inhalational anaesthetic agent in an article on Anaesthesia and Relaxation!
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