Pharmacology SAQs

 

 

 

Local Anaesthetics

03B7

Write short notes on factors affecting the speed of onset and duration of effect of local anaesthetics when used to produce peripheral nerve block. 46%

 

03A3

Explain how lignocaine prevents the conduction of a nerve action potential. 37%

 

02A9

Outline the toxicity of local anaesthetics 57%

 

01B11

Describe the required pharmacological characteristics of local anaesthetic formulations intended for topical use. 41%

 

00B13

Write short notes on factors affecting the speed of onset and duration of local anaesthetics when used to produce peripheral nerve block 54%

00A16

Briefly describe the factors that determine skin penetration by local anaesthetics. What is a eutectic mixture? Briefly describe the formulation and pharmacology of EMLA cream? 73%

1999
Outline the toxicity of local anaesthetics
36%

98B15
Describe the pharmacology of ropivacaine and explain why it may be considered a safer agent than bupivacaine.
42%

1997
List the physico-chemical characteristics of bupivacaine. Explain how they influence its pharmaco-dynamic effects at the site of administration

 

1997
Describe the ideal pharmacological characteristics of local anaesthetic agents and formulation intended for topical use, including their clinical applications.
22%

96B13
Outline briefly the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of lignocaine.
54%

1995
Outline factors that determine latency (speed of onset) of local anaesthetic drugs

 

1994
Compare and contrast ropivacaine and bupivacaine

 

1993
Outline the factors which would make a local anaesthetic agent suitable for use in obstetric practice

 

1993
Explain with the example of three local anaesthetic agents of your choice, how their physico-chemical properties influence their pharmacological effects

 

1992
Write short notes on the cardiovascular toxicity of bupivacaine

 

1991
Write short notes on transdermally administered local anaesthetic agents

 

1991
Write short notes on the cardiovascular toxicity of bupivacaine

 

Autonomic & Cardiovascular Drugs

Autonomic Pharmacology

00A11
Outline the main biochemical event involved in noradrenergic transmission, and how these may be altered by the use of MAO (mono amine oxidase) inhibitors
57%

99A11
Briefly compare and contrast the clinical pharmacology of atropine, hyoscine and glycopyrrolate.
42%

98A14
Discuss the use of different vasoconstrictors to treat hypotension occurring as a result of subarachnoid block
60%

1997
Outline the main biochemical event involved in noradrenergic transmission, and how these may be altered by the use of MAO (mono amine oxidase) inhibitors

 

1994
Give a brief account of the actions of the alpha-adrenergic agonists and their potential applications in anaesthesia

 

1990
Write short notes on pyridostigmine

 

Adrenoreceptor Drugs

03B6
List the potential clinical uses of an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist and outline the limitations of clonidine for each.
60%

02B7
Outline the potential pharmacological advantages and disadvantages of intra-operative beta-blockade.
76%

01B15
Outline the potential benefits and disadvantages of peri-operative beta-blockade
47%

01A15
Compare and contrast the pharmacology of esmolol and propranolol

 

99A16
Describe the effects of the alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonists relevant to anaesthesia
63%

1991
Write short notes on Atenolol

 

Antihypertensives (incl Diuretics)

03A7
Classify diuretics, briefly explaining their mode of action.
88%

00B10
Classify diuretics giving examples and briefly explaining their action
79%

1999
Briefly describe the mechanism and treatment of the toxicity of sodium nitroprusside.
48%

1994
Write about the pharmacology of Captopril

 

1994
Give a brief account of the pharmacological actions and toxicity of nitric oxide

 

1994
Write about the pharmacology of Nifedipine

 

1993
Compare and contrast nitroprusside and nitroglycerin

 

1993
What is meant by the term Calcium channel”? What are the effects of calcium channel blocking agents?

 

1991
Discuss the mechanisms of action of drugs which may be employed to lower blood pressure during anaesthesia.

 

Anti-arrhythmic Drugs

02A13
What are the side-effects of amiodarone and what problems may develop during concurrent anaesthesia?
44%

 

96A15
Describe briefly the pharmacology of adenosine and its potential uses in anaesthesia.
65%

 

1993
What are the effects of calcium channel blocking agents

 

1990
Write short notes on calcium channel blocking agents

 

Miscellaneous Pharmacology

Anti-emetic Drugs

98B10
Describe the sites of action of antiemetic agents used for postoperative nausea and vomiting
77%

1997
Describe the location and function of dopamine receptors
Give some examples of agonist and antagonist drugs.
73%

1994
Write about the pharmacology of Droperidol

 

1991
What are the properties of the ideal antiemetic? How might such a drug be evaluated clinically?

Drugs affecting Coagulation

02A15
Describe the mechanism of the anticoagulant effect of coumarin derivatives and what determines the onset and offset of action.
45%

99A15
List the drugs used clinically as anti-coagulants and anti-thrombotics. Write short notes on the mechanisms of their actions.
65%

95B4
Outline the chemistry of heparin. Describe the mechanism of action and list its toxic effects.
58%

95A8
Describe the mechanism of action of protamine when used to reverse effects of heparin. Outline the side-effects of protamine
43%

95A10
Outline the importance of vitamin K and the factors determining its uptake
68%

1993
Discuss the pharmacology of drugs used in the control of blood coagulation.

 

1990
Discuss the pharmacology of drugs used therapeutically to alter coagulation

 

Obstetric Pharmacology

00A12
Outline the pharmacology of oxytocin
77%

96B14
Outline briefly the pharmacology of oxytocin
54%

95B6
Outline the influence of pregnancy on pharmacokinetics
64%

1994
Give a brief account of the pharmacological actions and side effects of prostaglandins used in obstetrics

 

1992
Write short notes on placental transfer of drugs

 

Gastrointestinal Pharmacology

02A14
Briefly outline pharmacological methods of reducing gastric acidity.
Indicate the mechanisms of action and their advantages and disadvantages of each method
59%

98A12
Classify the drugs which are useful for reducing the volume and acidity of gastric contents, giving an outline of the mechanism of effect for each group. 
46%

96B15
Briefly give an account of the pharmacological methods for reducing gastric acidity.
Indicate the mechanisms and their advantages and disadvantages.
51%

 

NSAIDs / Paracetamol

03B5
Describe the pharmacological effects of paracetamol. Outline its toxicity and management.
86%

 

02A12
Outline the mechanism of action of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and their potential adverse effects
72%

00A10
Briefly describe the pharmacological effects of paracetamol. Outline the mechanisms for its toxicity.
70%

1997
Outline the mechanism of action of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and their potential adverse effects
65%

1995
Briefly describe the pharmacological effects of paracetamol. List its clinical indications and outline the mechanisms for its toxicity.

 

1993
Write about the pharmacology of ketorolac

 

Unclassified Drugs

02B8
Outline the pharmacological effects of vasopressin
79%

01B14
Outline the direct effects of endogenously released histamine.
49%

98A11
Briefly describe the pharmacological implications of the administration of a single dose of gentamycin during anaesthesia.
75%

98A9
List the effects of histamine. Write a brief outline on the pharmacology of the H1 blocking drugs.
62%

96A10
Describe briefly the mechanism of action of dantrolene. List it adverse effects and outline its uses in anaesthesia.
64%

1994
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of synthetic colloids and stable plasma protein solution in volume replacement.

 

Statistics

03A5
Outline the important statistical issues in designing a study to compare the duration of analgesia of two drugs given for post-operative pain relief.
38%

 

01B16
Briefly describe correlation and simple linear regression, and explain their differences. What assumptions are common to both?
82%

 

01A16
Describe the use of the null hypothesis and P-value in a drug trial
89%

00A13
Briefly describe correlation and simple linear regression, and explain their differences.
What assumptions are common to both?
70%

99B9
What is meant by '95% confidence interval'? Explain the practical applications of confidence intervals and indicate why they may be preferred to P-values.
48%

99A9
In a clinical trial why is adequate power important? What factors affect the determination of an adequate sample size?
58%

98B12
Briefly describe the terms correlation and simple linear regression, and explain their differences.
What assumptions are common to both?
34%

97A14
What is meant by '95% confidence interval'? Explain the practical applications of confidence intervals and indicate why they may be preferred to P-values.
30%

1997
In a clinical trial why is adequate power important? What factors affect the determination of an adequate sample size?
35%

96B10
Describe briefly the use of the NULL HYPOTHESIS in a drug trial and how the P-value is relevant
62%

96A14
Explain briefly the differences between simple linear regression and correlation and indicate the assumptions common to both.

 

95B7
What is meant by '95% confidence interval'? Explain the practical applications of confidence intervals and indicate why they may be preferred to P-values.
33%

95A6
Describe the NULL HYPOTHESIS in a drug trial and how the P-value is relevant
53%

1994
Define Standard Deviation. Explain its application to the use of drugs in clinical anaesthetic practice.

 

1992
Write short notes on Student's test

 

1991
Write short notes on bias in drug trials and how its influence may be reduced.

 

1991
Write short notes on non parametric statistical tests.

 

1990
Write short notes on probability