Question

MAC-BAR is the:

a. partial pressure of an anesthetic required to abolish movement in 50% of patients
b. partial pressure of an anesthetic at which subjects will open their eyes
c. partial pressure of an anesthetic at which autonomic blockade occurs
d. partial pressure of an anesthetic at which amnesia occurs

Answer 1

MAC-BAR is a measure of the potency of an anesthetic agent, representing the partial pressure needed to block autonomic responses in 50% of patients.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term MAC-BAR refers to the minimal alveolar concentration of an anesthetic required to block autonomic response to a noxious stimulus in 50% of patients under standardized conditions. It is essentially a measure of the potency of an anesthetic agent in terms of its ability to suppress the autonomic responses. Hence, the correct answer to the question is: c. partial pressure of an anesthetic at which autonomic blockade occurs.