Age Considerations Flashcards
Patients are considered pediatric up to what age?
12 weeks
After what are are organ systems nearly developed?
12 weeks
Neonates are dependent on what for cardiac output?
This is due to a minimal ability to increase what?
- Heart rate
- Contractility
Which nervous system is immature in a young animal?
Sympathetic
Which fluid volume is increased in young animals?
ECF
Do young animals have slower or higher metabolic rate?
Higher
What might persist in young animals, especially foals?
Fetal circulation with a R to L shunt.
Do young animals have a high or low resting respiratory rate/minute ventilation?
What is this due to?
- High
- Increased oxygen demand
What is different about pulmonary reserve in young animals?
Have minimal pulmonary reserve.
T/F: Young animals have a greater work of breathing.
True
T/F: PCV increases by 1/3 in first 28 days in small animals.
False - PCV DECREASES by 1/3 in first 28 days in small animals.
Blood loss can lead to what in young animals?
Significant decrease in oxygen delivery to tissues.
What type of drugs will have a greater activity in young animals?
Why?
- Highly protein-bound drugs
- Due to hypoalbuminemia
What type of enzymes can young animals be deficient in?
What effect does this have?
- Hepatic microsomal enzymes
- Prolonged drug effects
Is GFR increased or decreased in young animals?
What effect does this have?
- Decreased GFR
- Prolonged effect of drugs excreted in urine
Are kidneys more or less efficient in young animals?
What is a result of this?
- Kidneys less efficient
- Less tolerant of fluid overload
Do young animals generally have a low or high level of body fat?
What effect does this have?
- Low body fat
- Decreased mass for drug redistribution
Are young animals susceptible to hyperthermia or hypothermia?
Hypothermia
T/F: Young animals have low metabolism and significant hepatic glycogen.
False - Young animals have HIGH metabolism and MINIMAL hepatic glycogen.
Are young animals susceptible to hypoglycemia?
Yes
Do young animals have lower or higher permeability of the BBB?
What is seen with this?
- Higher
- More profound drug effects
What is important for any age patient?
Appropriate analgesia
Pain experienced as a neonate may cause what?
Altered pain processing/perception for life.
Are nursing animals fasted?
No
How long are young animals fasted?
3-4 hours
What might be difficult or impossible to place in an emergency?
IV catheter
Anything given IV may also be given by what other route?
IO - Intraosseus
What are 2 types of sedatives that are not recommended with young animals?
- Phenothiazines
- Alpha-2 agonists
What category of sedative provides good sedation in foals?
Is this the same for adult horses?
- Benzodiazepines
- No
Which benzodiazepine is preferred in foals?
Midazolam
In young animals, benzodiazepines generally maintain what?
Respiratory and CV function
What category of drug is a good choice for young animals for analgesia and some sedation due to their minimal CV/respiratory effects?
Opioids
Which opioid has a long DOA and is poorly reversible?
Buprenorphine
Why are anticholinergics often given with the premed in young animals?
Dependent on heart rate for cardiac output.
Can anticholinergics be given intra-op with young animals?
Yes
What should be aggressively treated if seen in young animals?
Bradycardia
With local anesthetics in young animals, should the low end or high end of the dose range be used?
Low end
How are esters metabolized?
Plasma esterases