Anaes SAQs · Physiology

Distribution, clearance and half-life

Primary pharmacology short-answer. The three core parameters (Vd, CL, t1/2) and the five equations that link them; first-order elimination; the one- versus two-compartment model and the alpha/beta phases; hepatic clearance and the extraction ratio (flow- versus capacity-dependent); the loading and maintenance dose equations; steady state at five half-lives; the context-sensitive half-time (Hughes 1992) and why remifentanil is context-insensitive; and bioavailability and the first-pass effect.