POCUS of the Month is back!

Introduction to Lung Ultrasound

Watch Now

New Series! Pediatric Anesthesia Vodcast (en Español)

Consideraciones Perioperatorias: Bronchoespasmo en Anestesia Pediátrica

Watch Now

Have you visited our External Resources page lately? New content has been added! Use the filters to find just what you're looking for.

View Now

New! Create a free account on OpenAnesthesia.org!

We want to know more about you to create the content you seek!

Create an Account

Check out the latest OpenAnesthesia Summaries!

More than 400 mini-reviews on high-yield topics in anesthesiology, critical care, and perioperative medicine.

Summaries

Summary of the Day

Ultrasound: Image Optimization and Two-Dimensional Artifacts

Read Summary

Question of the Day

Which of the following DECREASES MAC for volatile anesthetics?

Hyperthyroidism

MAO inhibitors

Hypothermia

Female sex

Your Answer

Correct Answer

Explanation

Hypothermia decreases MAC. Clonidine, dexmedetomidine (and other drugs that reduce central catecholamines) also lower MAC. Hyperthermia and MAO inhibitors (and other drugs that increase central catecholamines) increase MAC. Hyperthyroidism slightly raises MAC. There is no sex effect: the MAC of men and women is the same.

References:

Inhaled Anesthetic Agents: Mechanism of Action, Uptake, and Distribution