Anaesthetic Recovery Flashcards
What is the recovery period?
Period between disconnection of anaesthetic administration to the time whent he animal can maintain unsupported recumbency
Why is the role of monitoring recovery important?
- 60% of anaesthetic mortality occurs during recovery
- Often neglected time of anaesthesia
- Other staff may be dealing with next patient
- Patient is still under your care
What does the duration of recovery depend on? Name 3
- Length of anaesthesia
- Condition of patient
- Age of patient
- Type of anaesthesia and route of admin
- Patients body temp
What are the 4 main stages of recovery?
- HR increase
- RR increases and volume increases
- Eye position rotates centrally
- Reflexes become stronger e.g. palpebral, pedal, earf flick
What should you give your patient before disconnecting them from the anaesthetic machine? And what benefit is there to us
Pure oxygen
Benefit: Reduces pollution of volatile agent
When do you remove the ET tube from a patient?
- When the patient regains the swallow reflex
What patients do you remove the ET tube earlier in and why?
Cats due to potential laryngospasm
Do you wait longer or remove the ET quicker in brachycephalics
Wait longer
What position should the patient be in when removing the ET tube?
Lateral or sternal recumbency with neck extended
When removing an ET tube from the cat what should you also do?
Ensure cats tongue is at least partially out
What must you remember to do before removing the ET tube?
- Check for reflex
- Untie mouth tape
- Deflate cuff
What reflex do you look for in cats when wanting to remove the ET tube?
Ear flick
How are anaesthetics eliminated (injectables, and inhalationals)
- Injectables - liver metabolises and excreted by kidney
- Inhalational - respiratory tract
What can you give to speed up recovery?
Analeptics (reversal drugs)
Name 2 things that affect pain in the recovery period?
- Surgical procedure
- Perioperative analgesics used
- Surgical technique
