Body fluids
Figure 11.1 Body fluid compartments as percentage of body weight The variations of TBW (% body weight) and ECF (% body weight) with age are shown in Figure 11.2. Figure…
Principles of resuscitation
Figure 8.2 Algorithm for in-hospital resuscitation. Reproduced with the kind permission of the Resuscitation Council (UK). © Resuscitation Council (UK) (2015) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation Although cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is traditionally divided…
Neuromuscular blocking agents
homozygous80501–5 min94%Atypicalheterozygous605010 min1 : 25Atypicalhomozygous20202 hours1 : 3000Silentheterozygous805010 min1 : 25Silenthomozygousminimal activity2 hours1 : 100,000Fluoride-resistantheterozygous755010 min1 : 300,000Fluoride-resistanthomozygous65402 hours1 : 150,000 u, a, s and f are the four commonest…
Gastrointestinal physiology
Figure 20.1 Muscle layers in the GI tract Patterns of motility Basal electrical rhythm (BER) Distal to the oesophagus, smooth muscle cells exhibit spontaneous variations in transmembrane potential, between –70…
Hypnotics and intravenous anaesthetic drugs
Soluble in aqueous mediumStable in solutionStable in air within the containerStable when dilutedStable in lightStable at room temperatureInexpensivePharmacologicalPotent enough to provide surgical anaesthesia without supplementInduction in one arm–brain circulation timeHigh…
Mechanisms of drug action
and penicillamine are both used in lead poisoning; penicillamine is also of use in copper and mercury poisoning. Cyclodextrins are bucket-shaped oligosaccharides produced from starch. α-Cyclodextrins are formed of six,…
Local anaesthetic agents
Figure 33.1 Chemical structure of an ester (procaine) and an amide (lidocaine) Local anaesthetic agents exist in two states, acid (protonated) and basic (non-ionised) in equilibrium according to their pKa…
Special patient circumstances
Figure 5.1 Innervation of the birth canal Figure 5.2 Methods of pain relief in labour Psychological Antenatal educationPleasant environment Complementary TENSAromatherapyReflexologyAcupuncture Systemic analgesia Nitrous oxideInhalationalIM opioids (pethidine)PCA (remifentanil) Epidural Bolus…
Cardiovascular pharmacology
Figure 36.1 Sites of action of antiarrhythmic drugs Figure 36.2 Antiarrhythmic drugs by class Class I IA Quinidine Procainamide Disopyramide Cibenzoline IB Lidocaine Phenytoin Mexiletine Tocainide Ethmozine IC Flecainide Lorcainide…
Intravenous fluids
Extracellular waterIntravascular (blood) volumeProvision of metabolic substratesElectrolytesCarbohydrateAmino acids and proteinFatty acidsManipulation of acid–base balanceForced acid or alkaline diuresisCoagulopathy correctionPlateletsClotting factorsImproving oxygen carriageDiluent for drugsIf causticIf low solubilityOsmotic effectsManipulation of blood…
