You HAVE to know these (but you'll never use them)...

[wvuturtle514]

Okay, so now I'm going to VENT.....:salook:

Why is it that we have to learn EVERYTHING there is to know about certain inhaled anesthetics, but then the professor always follows it with the statement "But you're never going to use these gases in practice." WHAT THE $@#&!!! If I'm NEVER going to use these gases in my clinical practice, then why am I spending time learning about the specifics of each of them. Specifically, Methoxyflurane, Enflurane and Halothane. Now, I'm sure there are some instances where these gases are still used occasionally in clinical practice (say, third-world countries), but most of these have been taken off the market in the US. I understand the need to learn about the historical aspects of these gases and why they were taken off the market....but do I really need to memorize their structures and all the organ systems they affect, when I could be spending time learning about drugs that I will actually be using?? Sorry, this is so long.....as you can tell, I'm kinda burnt out on pharmacology right now!!! Thanks for listening and if anyone has any insight, feel free to respond!!!

[susswood]

oh geez... I feel for ya. My program didn't make me learn about methoxyflurane or ethrane (although we did learn about halothane). Honestly, I think your instructor needs to reevaluate the class content.

[MmacFN]

heheh

there seems to be so many things that fit this rant in school eh?

[RAYMAN]

Yeah, I wonder if I'm gonna be screamin the same thing in a few months. I just finished shadowing a crna friend of mine for a few weeks and I noticed all they have on their machines were sevo, des and of course nitrous. In the neuro rooms they had iso. I'm sure we'll have to know'em all too.

[TranMan]

I agree with you. Those drugs are worth mentioning and discussing briefly. Maybe it's important to know their clinical significance or their contribution to clinical anesthesia, but it does seem pointless to have to memorize their structure and how they effect all organ systems.

Even if the drug is no longer in use, sometimes know that it's structure is related to another similar drug can help you remember it's mechanism of action or why it was taken off market or how it was improved.

I guess I don't believe in memorizing data just for the sake of memorizing it especially if you won't be using those certain drugs.

[athomas91]

i think it is important to know the evolution of the gases - and realize that likely in a few years they may evolve again
board wise - they have removed every question regarding ethrane - but halothane questions remain.