Obese animals require which direction of dose per kilogram for anesthetics?

Obese animals require which direction of dose per kilogram for anesthetics?

• A. Higher
• B. Lower
• C. Same
• D. Variable

Answer: (B)

In obesity, body composition shifts toward more fat tissue, which greatly increases the volume of distribution for many anesthetics that are lipophilic. When dosing is based on total body weight, a larger portion of the drug ends up in fat rather than in the central compartments where the brain effect is achieved. This can lead to higher peak brain concentrations initially but also to prolonged drug release from fat stores after the brain effect has waned, causing delayed recovery and potential oversedation. To avoid these issues, the dose per kilogram is lowered and often calculated from ideal or lean body weight rather than total body weight. This aligns the dose with the amount of metabolically active tissue and helps achieve the intended effect with a shorter, more predictable recovery.

In obesity, body composition shifts toward more fat tissue, which greatly increases the volume of distribution for many anesthetics that are lipophilic. When dosing is based on total body weight, a larger portion of the drug ends up in fat rather than in the central compartments where the brain effect is achieved. This can lead to higher peak brain concentrations initially but also to prolonged drug release from fat stores after the brain effect has waned, causing delayed recovery and potential oversedation. To avoid these issues, the dose per kilogram is lowered and often calculated from ideal or lean body weight rather than total body weight. This aligns the dose with the amount of metabolically active tissue and helps achieve the intended effect with a shorter, more predictable recovery.