Volatile Anesthetics: Neuroprotective or Neurodamaging?

Are volatile anesthetics neuroprotective or neurotoxic?

Volatile anesthetics are one class of the most commonly used drugs. However, the mechanisms for these drugs to induce anesthesia are not fully understood and have been under intensive investigation. Two other effects of these anesthetics on the central nervous system, volatile anesthetics-induced neuroprotection and neurotoxicity, currently are hot research fields. Although data from animal stu...

Volatile anesthetics as a neuroprotective agent

Corresponding author: Sungsik Park, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Samduk-2 ga, Joong-gu, Daegu 700-721, Korea. Tel: 82-53-420-5863, Fax: 82-53-426-2760, E-mail: [email protected] This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http:// creativeco...

[Neuroprotective effects of anesthetics].

During cerebral ischaemia, energetic failure of injured cells together with excessive release of glutamate the most common excitatory amino acid in the brain, lead to excitotoxicity and immediate or delayed neuronal death. There is strong experimental evidence to support the neuroprotective role played by anaesthetic agents. Hence, barbiturates, volatile anesthetics or ketamine exhibit signific...

volatile anesthetics in ischemic liver injury: enemy or friend?

Volatile Anesthetics in Ischemic Liver Injury: Enemy or Friend?

Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education: Liver surgery and perioperative care of patients with hepatic dysfunction is still moving toward better safety. Anesthesiologists play their role with judicious selection of anesthetic medications. Ischemic liver injury occurs in a variety of clinical settings such as trauma, shock, and liver surgery (1, 2). Isch-emia and subseq...