Anesthesia Tutorial of the Week Quiz

1) The NMDA receptor is a ligand gated ion channel.

2) The NMDA receptor is a receptor for the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate.

3) The NMDA receptor Is activated by magnesium ions to inhibit pain signaling.

4) NMDA receptors involved in pain pathways are located on post-synaptic membranes in the ventral horn of the spinal cord.

5) NMDA receptors are thought to be involved in wind up and central sensitisation phenomena.

6) Magnesium is thought to produce an analgesic effect through blocking the entry of calcium ions into secondary afferent neurones.

7) Magnesium administered intravenously has been demonstrated to reduce perioperative opioid requirements.

8) Magnesium should be administered intravenously with a loading dose of 50-100mg/kg.

9) Magnesium as a local anaesthetic adjuvant can prolong the duration of nerve blocks.

10) Magnesium has an established role in chronic pain.

11) Symptoms of magnesium toxicity might include hypotension and arrhythmias.

12) Signs of magnesium toxicity might include brisk reflexes.

13) Administration of magnesium can cause prolongation of neuromuscular blockade through reduced release of acetycholine at the neuromuscular junction.

14) Administration of magnesium causes prolongation of neuromuscular blockade through reduced metabolism of non-depolarising muscle blocking drugs.

15) Serious adverse effects arising from intravenous magnesium administration are common based on available data from obstetric use.

16) Magnesium is the most abundant intracellular cation in the human body.

17) ‘Wind up’ is a phenomenon involving reduced descending inhibitory signalling leading to pain hypersensitivity.

18) In pain pathways second order neurones are stimulated by primary A beta and C fibres.

19) Based on reduction in pain scores magnesium can be used in a single agent analgesic strategy.

20) Functions of magnesium in the body include acting as cofactor for enzymes.