Anaesthesia For Minor Procedures Flashcards
Why do we use anaesthesia?
Immobility, prevent pain, prevent distress
Why is anesthesia important?
High quality data, lower variation in no. of animals needed, lower mortality, refine, reduce
Fasting in anaesthesia?
Anaesthesia = no protective coughing reflex = inhale vomit = pneumonia (dogs, cats, primates, ferrets, pigs, sheep, ruminants).
Rodents, rabbits, guinea pigs = no vomit
Acclimatization in anesthesia?
- 7-10 days in animal unit
- Reduce stress = safer
- Check animal health and weight
Local anaesthetic in anaesthesia?
Anaesthetize large areas by blocking nerve trunks = topical for larger species BUT need restrain/training to accept
Pros and cons of inhalants?
Pros: easy administration, smooth and rapid induction, change depth, rapid recovery
Cons: expensive equipment, anaesthetise 1 at a time, waste gas must be removed
Pros and cons of injectables?
Pros: multiple at once, no specialist equipment, just O2
Cons: can’t change dose, variability in response
What are signs of poor health in animals?
- Ruffled coat
- Sunken/closed eyes
- Hunched posture
- Pale ears/tail
- Not active
- Discharge around eye
How does anaesthesia affect your results?
- Cardiovascular + respiratory depression, hypothermia
- Alter immune, tumour metastatic rate, organ blood flow, compete for enzyme pathways, interact w/ receptors, GI motility
=> REVIEW LITERATURE
What are the common injectable agents
Ketamine (+ Medetomidine)
- 30 mins surgical anaesthesia, ~180 mins recovery
- Atipamezole partially reverses
- Provide O2
- Give extra analgesia after reversal
Hypnorm (+ midazolam/diazepam)
- Surgical anaesthesia
- Buprenophine partially reverses
Propofol
- Surgical anaesthsia 5-10 mins via IV
Alphaxalone
What are uncommon injectable anaesthetics?
Etomidate (+fentanyl)
Pentobarbital (light anaesthsia, narrow safety margin, 7hr recovery)
Compare the different routes of adminstration of injectables?
IM: 5-10 mins to develop. Pain on administration in small. Some = irritant = muscle damage E.g. Ketamine.
SC: 5-15. Less stress, more consistent than IM/IP. Not all agents suitable. Slower absorption (10 mins), easy, well tolerated
IP: Widely used. 5-10% times not all anaesthetic administered. Not all suitable. Less pain, easier but also problems w/ airsac in birds
IV: Rapid effect = dose adjustable. Better for large. Check dose appropriate on 1/2 animals
How do you assess anaesthesia depth?
Withdrawal Reflexes:
- tail pinch (light-med)/pedal withdrawal (med-deep)
Eye Position:
- useful in dog, cat, pig, sheep = eye gradually rotates down w/ anaesthesia, blink reflex lost, deep = eye rotates back up and fixed centrally
- Rodents = fixed eye position, blink may remain
- Rabbits = variation, deep = rotate and protrude
Ear Pinch:
- Lost in rabbits and guinea pigs
What do we need to support and monitor during anaesthesia?
- Support respiratory function
- Prevent eye injury
- Prevent hypothermia
- Monitor HR
How can you assess respiration?
- Observe pattern and depth of chest movements
- Electronic monitor
- Reduction of 50% rate = concerning
- Lay so airway unobstructed, head and neck extended