Anaesthesia Flashcards
Why do you carry out a pre-anaesthetic assessment?
- to see if you think the animal will survive the anaesthetic
- to see if it is worth doing the procedure
- to establish the suitability of the patient to undergo sedation/ anaesthesia
- to detect any deviation from normal which may influence or be influenced by anaesthesia
- helps us to select appropriate anaesthetic and sedation agents
- helps us come to a prognosis
Questions to ask when taking a history for pre-anaesthetic assessment
- need consent for the procedure
- need contact details of the owner
- when was the last time the animal ate and drank
- has the animal had any previous anaesthetics - if so was there any complications
- is the animal on any medication - even herbal ones can have an effect, if so ask for the dose, frequency and last administration
- Any current or new symptoms or problems noticed by owener
Questions to ask when taking a history for pre-anaesthetic assessment - cardiorespiratory, renal and neurological
cardiovascular:
- any exercise intollerance
- any syncope - passing out
- any recent weight gain
- any lethargy
Respiratory:
- nasal or ocular discharge
- any coughing or sneezing
- any excessive panting or exercise intollerance
Neurological: - senile dogs need lower anaesthetic drug doses as can increase severity of senility and dementia
- any seizures
- any behavioural changes
Renal:
- any excessive drinking
- any excessive urination
What are the ASA grades?
- normal haelthy patient
- a patient with mild systemic disease
- a patient with severe systemic disease
- a patient with severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life
- A moribund patient who is not expected to survive without the operation
E = emergency
What are the advantages and disadvantages of pre-anaesthetic bloods
Advantages:
- increases the information you have on he patient and allows you to better individualise care and anaesthetic protocol
- gives owner reassurance
- can pick up on disease - most commonly liver and kidney
- increases accuracy at predicting potential complications
- to provide evidence in the case of a court case
Disadvantages:
- cost to owner
- can cause animal unnecessary stress
- can find abnormal results which can cause unnecessary worry
- if already pre-meded can alter blood results - always screen before pre-med
What is the protocol for feeding before and after an anaesthetic
- Withholding food for 24-48 hours before an op increass risk of regurgitation
- best practice give a light wet meal 8 hours before surgery
- feed as soon as possible after op to reduce nausea
What should be looked for on a pre-anaesthetic physical exam
General demeanor:
- body condition
- hydration status
- looking alert and responsive
- quiet animals will need lower pre-med doses
CVS:
- CRT - prolonged is significant but animals with a problem can still have a problem
- check pulses
- check heart rate
- check mucous membrane colour
Resp:
- discharges
- increased respiratory effort
- auscultation - abnormal respiratory noise
Temperature - don’t bother if animal is stressed or difficult unless you suspect something
- pyrexia
- hypothermia
Hepatic and renal::
- urinalysis
- jaundice
- bloods to check liver and kidney enzymes
- if liver enzymes are abnormal best way to check liver health and function is a bile acid stim test
- mouth
- integument
What are the 2 types of muscle relaxant?
What are other muscle relaxants
- neuromuscular blocking agents - act peripherally, capable of paralysing all striated muscle
- centrally acting muscle relaxants - weaken postural muscles and act on the interneuronal relays in the spine
- botulinum toxin interferes with ACh release acts on the neuromuscular junction
- dantroline interferes with excitation and contraction coupling so muscles can’t contract when they recieve an impulse
Why are muscle relaxants used?
- can aid surgical access
- for assistance with intubation - cats and pigs
- as part of a balanced anaesthesia technique - e.g. to compliment other drugs like ketamine which increase muscle tone
Disadvantages to muscle relaxants
- can paralyse respiratory musculature rendering patient unable to breath
- makes it more difficult to judge anaesthetic depth - sometimes reflexes are prevented too
How is anaesthetic depth monitored
- heart rate
- arterial blood pressure
- salivation/lacrimation/defecation/urination
- sweating - horses
- anal tone
What is the order of muscle paralysis in a dog
- facial expression - more resistant in horses and cattle
- tail
- distal limbs and neck
- proximal limbs
- throat
- abdominal wall
- intercostals
- diaphragm
recovery is usually in the reverse order
How do peripherally acting neuromuscular blockers work
- compete with acetylcholine at the post-synaptic nicotinic ACh receptors so block normal neuromuscular transmission
What are the 2 types of peripherally acting neuromuscular blockers
non-depolarising nm blocking agents
e.g amino-steroids - vercuronium, rocuronium
benzylisoquinoliniums - atracurium
block post-synaptic NaCh receptors and prevent ACh activating them - must block at least 75% to have an effect
depolarising agents
e.g. succinylcholine
firstly stimulates the post synaptic NACh receptors then as membrane becomes refractory blocks them - only needs to act on 5-20% of receptors for effect
How do you assess the degree of block
- jaw tone
- eye position
- presence of reflexes
- any signs of movement
How are neuromuscular blocks reversed
- anti-cholinesterase drugs - reduce break down of ACh if a significant amount is available in the synaptic cleft, increases amount of ACh in nmjs
- reversible agents = edrophonium and neostigmine
irreversible agents not used in practise
be aware that you see an increase in both nicotinic and muscarinic receptors - don’t want muscarinic effects
What are the muscarinic receptor effects
parasympathetic effects:
- bradycardia
- bronchoconstriction
- salivation
- defeacation and urination
- miosis
require anticholinergics to prevent these effects
What are anticholinergics
examples: atropine - don’t use in horses and rabbits
glycopyrrolate
coupling with anticholinesterases:
- neostigmine and glycopyrrolate
- endrophonium and atropine - endrophonium has fewer muscarinic effects so may not need an anticholinergic
When should you reverse neuromuscular blockers
when signs of recovery are seen e.g. twitches, animal fighting to breath on it’s own
don’t reverse unless you are sure it can move and breath for itself
be aware if you reverse too early excess amounts of ACh can desensitise the nmj deepening the block
What is the difference between sedation and premedication
- sedation more commonly done in large animals
- sedation is more dangerous as it’s not monitored as well
- sedation often to calm an animal enough to carry out a procedure while pre-medication is to calm down and reduce the dose of anaesthetic drug needed
- pre-medication doesn’t have the same significant sedation effect
Why do we sedate and pre-med
- ease of handling
- to calm and animal and reduce stress
- to reduce the amount of anaesthetic agent needed
- to reduce muscle tone
- to provide analgesia
- to reduce seizures
Briefly describe the effects of ACP
- Acepromazine - a phenothiazinine
- reduces spontaneous motor activity, good for seizures
- onset: 30 mins
- duration: 4-8 hours
- metabolised by liver - be aware in liver disease
- Note: dose on body surface area not weight - larger the animal the less you need
Positives:
- Anti-arrhythmic – reduces chance of getting arrhythmias under GA but won’t have an effect on already established murmurs
- muscle relaxation - good to use in combination with ketamine
· Weak anti-histamine – good for mast cell tumour removal as might help reduce degranulation but don’t use in reactive skin tests as can interfere with results
· Antispasmodic
· Anti-emetic – reduce chances of vomiting esp with an opioid
· Works really well in Labradors
· Research shown giving ACP before a pre-med in horses increases chance of surviving op
Contraindications:
- side effects: causes vasodilation by blocking alpha 1 adrenoreceptors - beware of heat loss, provides no analgesia and provides unreliable sedation - easily aroused
- don’t use an adrenaline reversal - drops cardiac output dramatically
· Don’t give with a respiratory depressant drug as although fine on its own it will potentiate the effects of the other drug
· Will cause muscle relaxation – be aware in brachiocephalic dogs as it can relax the muscles around the pharynx which can occlude airways – can be used but in low doses, perfectly safe
· In boxes ACP can cause syncope due to excessive vasodilation causing bradycardia and respiratory depression - be aware you need a much lower dose
· Will reduce PCV as much as 50% because a lot of RBCs congregate in the spleen and due to the vasodilation creating more room for the same number of RBCs, not pathological doesn’t cause a problem
What should an ideal sedation/pre-medication drug be?
· Be easy to administer via several routes
· Have no side effects
· Have a rapid onset and reasonable duration of action
· Be of a sensible volume to inject
· Be able to be used in all species safely
. Be readily reversible
Briefly describe the effects of Alpha 2 agonists
- different ones licensed for different species
- have a variable onset and duration
Advantages:
- provide reliable sedation
- provide good analgesia
- have a synergistic effect on other drugs so need less anaesthetic agent
- provides muscle relaxation so can be used with ketamine to counteract it’s muscle tone effects
- Are reversible – atipamezole can reverse all alpha 2 effects, however side effects include tachycardia, muscle tremors, hypertension, over-alertness, panting and vomiting – don’t give IV give (more likely to get side effects) IM unless an emergency.
Disadvantages:
- cardiovascular effects - causes vasoconstriction and bradycardia
- don’t give in young animals can’t compensate CV system well
- large animals less stable with alpha 2s
- muscle relaxation - care in brachyocephalics
· Diuresis – block secretion and responsiveness to ADH, issue in animals unable to urinate, sometimes empty bladder before revival as full bladder can cause an animal to come round too soon which can be more detrimental (horses, blocked cats), will mess up urine specific gravity
· Increases uterine tone so avoid in pregnant animals
· Reduced GI secretions, blood flow and motility so care in horses – more likely to have ileum
· Hyperglycaemia – reduces secretion and response to insulin – take note on biochem and bloods
· Increased risk of gastro-oesophageal reflux
· Respiratory effects: take deeper breaths, won’t breath then will take a few deep breaths – normal for an animal on alpha 2s
- increased tidal volume
- Reduced resp rate
- Overall minute ventilation doesn’t change
- Can cause reduced cell counts and total proteins – care when analysing bloods
- Can cause mydriasis and reduced aqueous humour production
Briefly describe the effects of benzodiazepines
- none licensed for veterinary use
- most common drugs - diazepam and midazolam
- commonly used for induction rather than sedation
- Tends to be used as a co-induction agent with ketamine and propofol to reduce dose and get good muscle relaxation
Advantages:
- minimal CVS and resp depression
- anticonvulsant
- works well in very young or very old animals
- good muscle relaxation
disadvantages:
- may cause excitement rather than sedation
- do not give with liver disease
- tend to heighten any trait - aggression, excitement
- never give to cats go crazy - sympathetically dominated
-
What alpha 2 agonists can be used in small animals
medetomidine - domitor
dexmedetomidine
What alpha 2 agonists can be used in horses
xylazine
romifidine
detomidine
What alpha 2 agonists can be used in large animals
xylazine
detomidine
Briefly describe the effects of opioids
- butorphenol, methodone, buprenorphine
- butorphanol best for sedation but no analgesia - good for quick non-invasive procedures e.g. x-rays
- effects e.g. onset and duration are species, dose and drug dependant
Advantages:
- Causes minimal CVS depression – decrease in heart rate but not significant except pethidine which increases heart rate
Disadvantages:
- horses tend to get excited
- not reliable in cats
- Can cause respiratory depression in some species – don’t give in combination with another respiratory depressant
Briefly describe the effects of ketamine
· More often used as an induction agent – main in horses, not used on own in small animals
· Used in cats for triple combination – metatomidine, opioid and ketamine
Advantages
· Can be used to enhance sedation of other drugs
Gives good analgesia – good in low doses ·
Disadvantages:
- Increases muscle tone – use with a drug that causes muscle relaxation – benzodiazepine or alpha 2
Briefly describe the effects of propofol and alfaxalone
- used a lot in small animals
- quick onset
- short duration (15 mins)
- can be titrated to effect
- top ups used to enhance sedation of other drugs
Why is the patient monitored under anaesthetic?
safety of patient safety of personnel to maintain the correct depth of anaesthesia to maintain organ function legal implications
What is monitored during anaesthetic?
cardiovascular system
respiratory system
the CNS
and temperature
How is the cardiovascular system monitored during GA
monitoring tissue oxygen delivery through looking at peripheral perfusion, oxygenation, Arterial blood pressure and cardiac output
Basic indicators include: auscultation for heart rate, palpation of pulse (rate, rhythm, strength, defects), mucous membrane colour (dehydration, perfusion, blood oxygenation) and capillary refill time
Advanced indicators - ECG, urinary output, central venous pressure, cardiac output
How do you calculate cardiac output
heart rate x Stroke volume
What are the normal heart rates under GA
Dogs - over 60 bpm - smaller dogs may be higher
Cats - over 80 bpm
Horses - over 25 bpm
Cows - over 50 bpm
younger animals will be higher
What is the arterial blood pressure and how is it calculated
it is the pressure exerted by the circulating blood on the walls of the blood vessels
calculated by cardiac output x systemic vascular resistance
What should systolic and diastolic output be?
systolic - 120mmhg
diastolic - 60-80 mmhg
what is hypotension
abnormally low blood pressure, can lead to damage and reduced perfusion to vital organs
What can cause hypotension
- bradycardia
- drugs
- vasodilation
- inadequate stroke volume
- too deep anaesthesia
- incorrect body position
- acid-base disturbances
- hypovolaemia
- intermittent positive pressure ventilation
What is hypovolemia
a decreased volume of blood circulating the body
How is the respiratory system monitored during GA
- assess breathing by looking for bag movement, chest movement and by auscultation
- asses if the patient is breathing effectively - assess rate, rhythm, tidal volume, look at mucous membrane colour (purple/cyanotic means poor oxygen delivery to the peripheral tissues while brick red indicates hypercapnia or endotoxaemia)
How is total lung ventilation calculated
dead space ventilation (doesn’t participate in gas exchange) + alveolar ventilation
what is the best indicator of alveolar ventilation
partial pressure of carbon dioxide should be 35-45mmHg if it's high indicates hypoventilation if its low indicates hyperventilation carbon dioxide levels should not exceed 60 mmHg - this is hypercapnia
What can cause ventilatory failure
- drugs
- neuromuscular disease
- pain
- trauma
- a shunt
- hyperthermia
- hypoventilation
What monitoring aids can be used to assess the respiratory system
- pulse oximetry - measures oxygen saturation of haemoglobin
- capnograph - measures % carbon dioxide over inspiration and expiration
- respiratory or blood gas analysis
- spirometry - measures the volume of air breathed out in 1 second versus the total volume of air you breath out
During GA why is the CNS depressed
- to prevent movement
- to avoid consciousness
- to relax muscles
- so there is no awareness
- so there is no pain
- to allow stable haemodynamic parameters
What do the eyes say about the depth of anaesthesia
- when light they are central
- when adequate anaesthesia is reached they rotate down
What part of the brain controls temperature
the hypothalamus
what reflexes can you assess to check anaesthesia depth
- palpebral
- corneal in exotics in emergencies
- jaw tone
- muscle twitches
- withdraw limb reflex
What percentage water makes up an adult and neonate animal
- 60-70% in an adult
- 80% in a neonate
How is total body water calculated
- 60% of bodyweight e.g. 500kg horse - 60% of 500 = 300 so the total body water in a 500kg horse is 300 litres
of the body water in an animal how much is intracellular and how much is extracellular
of the 60% body water 40% is intracellular and 20% is extracellular
of the extracellular fluid in an animal how much is interstitial and how much is intravascular
of the 20% of extracellular fluid, 15% is interstitial and 5% is intravascular plasma
What is the total blood volume in a horse, dog, cat, rabbit, sheep and cow
in dogs and horses total blood volume is 8-9% of body mass
in the cat, rabbit, sheep and cow the total blood volume is 6-7% of body mass