Older agents, such as ether and cyclopropane, are now used infrequently. The mechanism of action of all inhalational anesthetics is thought to involve the uptake of the gas in the lipid bilayer of cell membranes and some interaction with the membrane proteins, resulting in an inhibition of the synaptic transmission of nerve impulses. For surgical anesthesia, these agents are usually used with preanesthetic medication, which includes sedatives or opiates to relieve preoperative and postoperative pain and tranquilizers to reduce anxiety. Neuromuscular blocking agents are used to produce complete muscular relaxation during surgery. They include tubocurarine, metocurine, succinylcholine, pancuronium, atracurium, vecuronium, and pipecuronium.
Intravenous anesthetics are sedative hypnotic drugs that produce anesthesia in large doses.
Local anesthetics are drugs that block nerve conduction in the region where they are applied. They act by altering the permeability of the nerve cell to sodium ions and thus blocking the conduction of nerve impulses. They may be applied topically or injected into the tissues. The first local anesthetic was cocaine. All rights reserved.