ANESTHESIOLOGY FAST REVIEW

ANESTHESIOLOGY_FAST_REVIEWKAPAK1-0-25

INTRAVENOUS ANESTHETICS

Eda Uysal Aydın

Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Ankara, Türkiye

Uysal Aydın E. Intravenous Anesthetics. In: Kazancı D, editor. Anesthesiology Fast Review. 1st ed. Ankara: Türkiye Klinikleri; 2025. p.113-121.

ABSTRACT

  • Intravenous anesthetic agents are essential in modern anesthesia, offering rapid induction, precise depth control, and reliable recovery.
  • This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical applications, and potential complications of major intravenous anesthetics, including benzodiazepines, ketamine, propofol, opioids, and vasoactive agents.
  • Benzodiazepines are widely used in preoperative preparation and procedural sedation, primarily due to their anxiolytic, sedative, and amnestic properties.
  • Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, provides potent analgesia and hemodynamic stability and has expanding applications in perioperative pain management and depression treatment.
  • Propofol remains the preferred agent for anesthesia induction and maintenance, known for its rapid onset and antiemetic effects.
  • Opioids play a critical role in intraoperative and postoperative pain management, modulating nociceptive pathways at both central and peripheral levels through their effects on opioid receptors.
  • Vasoactive agents are essential for managing hemodynamic instability; norepinephrine is commonly used in shock treatment, while nitroprusside is employed in hypertensive emergencies.
  • Each of these agents presents distinct side effects and contraindications, requiring thorough clinical assessment before use to ensure patient safety.
  • Multimodal approaches and personalized treatment strategies are crucial for optimizing patient outcomes and improving perioperative care.

Keywords: Anesthetics; Intravenous; Anesthesia; general

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