Modelling Optimization and Control of Biomedical Systems

4 Intravenous Anaesthesia

Ioana Naşcu¹, Alexandra Krieger², Romain Lambert³, and Efstratios N. Pistikopoulos⁴

¹ Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA

² Jacobs Consultancy, Kreisfreie Stadt Aachen Area, Germany

³ Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, UK

⁴ Texas A&M Energy Institute, Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, USA

4.1 A Multiparametric Model‐based Approach to Intravenous Anaesthesia

4.1.1 Introduction

Anaesthesia can be defined as a reversible pharmacological state where the patient muscle relaxation, analgesia and hypnosis are guaranteed. It is characterized by unconsciousness through the action of anaesthetics, but also by loss of the ability to perceive pain through the action of analgesics. Analgesics block the sensation of pain; the hypnotics produce unconsciousness, while the muscle relaxants prevent unwanted movement of muscle tone.

The concept of intravenous (IV) anaesthesia compared to volatile anaesthesia is simpler: it requires an IV line, and everything needed for general anaesthesia is supplied through this line. This will eliminate the need for sophisticated gas delivery systems or time‐consuming procedures such as establishing regional blocks or neuraxial blocks (Eikaas and Raeder 2009). The drugs used in IV anaesthesia are usually less toxic than inhalational agents, with less risk of malignant hyperthermia and no pollution of environmental ...