Question

To perform surgery with a minimum of pain for the patient and hassle for the surgeon, a patient may be administered a general anesthetic to prevent sensation and consciousness, as well as a paralytic to prevent reflexive muscle spasms. From what you have learned of motor control, suggest mechanisms by which a paralytic can prevent muscle contraction. With paralytics, what extra measure must be taken to keep the patient alive? Name such a paralytic agent.

Answer 1

Paralytics prevent muscle spasms during surgery by blocking neuromuscular communication, necessitating endotracheal intubation to assist with respiration; rocuronium is an example of such a paralytic agent.

Step-by-step explanation:

To perform surgery with minimal pain for the patient and ease for the surgeon, a patient may be administered a general anesthetic to prevent sensation and consciousness, as well as a paralytic to inhibit muscle contractions. Paralytics work by disrupting the communication between the nervous system and the muscles, often by blocking the receptors at the neuromuscular junction that would normally initiate muscle contraction. Because paralytics can affect the muscles involved in respiration, extra measures must be taken to ensure the patient continues to breathe. This is often achieved through endotracheal intubation, where a tube is inserted into the trachea to maintain an open airway and enable mechanical ventilation. A common paralytic used in the medical setting is rocuronium, which can be reversed with the drug sugammadex after the surgery is complete.