Physiology and Pharmacology of the Elderly
A. Heart 1. The heart increases in size during aging as a result of concentric ventricular hypertrophy that occurs in response to the increase in left ventricular afterload. 2. The heart rate response…
Drugs Used for Psychopharmacologic Therapy
A. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most broadly prescribed class of antidepressants and are the drugs of choice for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Compared with tricyclic…
Antimicrobials, Antiseptics, Disinfectants, and Management of Perioperative Infection
II. Antimicrobial Prophylaxis for Surgical Procedures A. The use of antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgery involves a risk-to-benefit evaluation, which varies depending on the nature of the operative procedure (Table 41-2). It is…
Anticoagulants
A. Pharmacokinetics 1. Heparin is a highly charged acidic molecule administered by intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous injection. 2. The precise pathway of heparin elimination is uncertain, and the influence of renal and hepatic…
Local Anesthetics
B. The nature of the connecting hydrocarbon chain is the basis for classifying drugs that produce conduction blockade of nerve impulses as ester local anesthetics or amide local anesthetics (Fig. 10-2)….
Acid–Base Disorders
B. With just blood gas and common serum biochemistry data, we can manage the majority of clinical acid–base disorders. C. The central focus of treating acid–base disturbances is the understanding of the…
Renal Physiology
1. The Glomerulus a. Glomeruli are found in the renal cortex and consist of a tuft of capillaries surrounded by Bowman’s capsule, the dilated blind end of the renal tubule. Glomerular capillaries…
Sympathomimetic Drugs
A. Epinephrine is a circulating hormone synthesized, stored, and released from the adrenal medulla. Its natural functions upon release into the circulation include regulation of myocardial contractility, heart rate, vascular and…
Metabolism
II. Carbohydrate Metabolism. Carbohydrates comprise a group of organic compounds that include sugars and starches and, in addition to carbon, contain hydrogen and oxygen in the same ratio as water (2:1)….
