MAC
Also written as: MAC — Minimum Alveolar Concentration
Minimum Alveolar Concentration - the concentration of inhaled anesthetic that prevents movement in 50% of patients in response to surgical stimulus.
Full Definition
Minimum Alveolar Concentration (MAC) is a standardized measure of anesthetic potency used to compare different inhaled anesthetics. It represents the concentration at which 50% of patients will not move in response to a standardized surgical stimulus. In pediatric anesthesia, MAC values are age-dependent, with infants requiring higher concentrations than adults for the same anesthetic agents. MAC values are crucial for determining appropriate anesthetic depth and are affected by factors such as age, temperature, and concurrent medications.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalize when used as an acronym. Spell out on first use in formal documents.
In Context
- "The MAC for sevoflurane in neonates is approximately 3.3%, significantly higher than the adult MAC of 2.0%." — Anesthesia textbook
- "Anesthetic depth was maintained at 1.2 MAC throughout the procedure to ensure adequate surgical conditions." — Anesthesia record