Anesthesia induction agents are essential anesthesia medications that anesthesia providers need to learn about and understand so they can select the correct medication for the right patient/situation. The primary induction agents used in today’s anesthesia practice include: Propofol, Etomidate, and Ketamine…we refer to these as “The Knock Out Buch!” 

Without a doubt, propofol is used more often than any other anesthesia induction agent. 

In today’s episode, we talk about the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, mechanism of action, and clinical indications of each one of the anesthesia induction medications. Get ready, because this is an episode filled with key concepts and important information used for exams that is hard to find!

References

1. Nagelhout J, Intravenous Induction Agents. Elisha S, Heiner J, Nagelhout J, eds. Nurse Anesthesia. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2023:101-117.
2. Hailu S, et al. Effectiveness of ketofol versus propofol induction on hemodynamic profiles in adult elective surgical patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Surgery Open. Vol 37, 2021.
3. Carlson P. Spreading depolarization in acute brain injury inhibited by ketamine: a prospective, randomized, multiple crossover trial. J Neurosurg. 2018 May 25;1-7.
4. Albanese J., et al., Ketamine Decreases Intracranial Pressure and Electroencephalographic Activity in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients during Propofol Sedation . Anesthesiology 1997; 87:1328–1334 doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/00000542-199712000-00011
5. Gregers M., et. al., Ketamine as an Anesthetic for Patients with Acute Brain Injury: A Systematic Review. Neurocrit Care. 2020 Aug;33(1):273-282. doi: 10.1007/s12028-020-00975-7. 

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Music by Alex Grohl 

Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast
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