Anesthesia Monitoring

Question 1

What is the target SpO2 for a patient under anesthesia?

Answer 1

As high as possible or >97%

Question 2

What does SpO2 percentage determine?

Answer 2

The percent of O2 in the PT’s blood. It’s the ratio of oxidized hemoglobin to the total amount of hemoglobin in the bloodstream.

Question 3

What locations do you moisten with alcohol for SpO2 probe placement?

Answer 3

Toes
Area near Achilles Tendon
Ears
Stomach Rolls
Inguinal Skin Flap

Question 4

What locations do you moisten with water for SpO2 probe placement?

Answer 4

Vulva
Tongue
Jowls
Prepuce

Question 5

What are two things that interfere with the SpO2 readings?

Answer 5

1.Motion interferes with waveform
2.Brightness of light source or surrounding light

Question 6

How often should vitals be recorded on the anesthetic record?

Answer 6

Every 5 minutes while the patient is under anesthesia.

Question 7

What is the target heart rate range for cats?

Answer 7

120 - 180 bpm

Question 8

What is the target heart rate range for small dogs?

Answer 8

100 - 150 bpm

Question 9

What is the target heart rate range for large dogs?

Answer 9

60 - 120 bpm

Question 10

What is the target heart rate range for rabbits?

Answer 10

200 - 300 bpm

Question 11

What are the 6 ways to obtain a PT’s HR?

Answer 11

1. Manual pulse
2. SpO2 monitor
3. Stethoscope
4. Esophageal stethoscope
5. Doppler
6. ECG

Question 12

What are 3 reasons a PT might be bradycardic?

Answer 12

1. Anesthesia is too deep
2. Hypoxia, flow of O2 is too slow
3. Hypothermia

Question 13

What drug can cause bradycardia despite a normal BP?

Question 14

What are 3 reasons a PT might be tachycardic?

Answer 14

1. Anesthesia is too light
2. PT is feeling pain
3. Hypercarbia

Question 15

What drug is used to bring a PT’s HR up during surgery?

Question 16

What drug is used to restart the heart in a PT that is crashing or arresting?

Question 17

What is the target RR for cats and dogs under anesthesia?

Answer 17

6 - 20 breaths per minute

Question 18

At minimum, how often should you manually give the PT a breath?

Answer 18

Every 5 minutes, but should be done as often as possible

Question 19

How do you manually give the PT a breath?

Answer 19

Hold down the pop-off valve button and squeeze the reservoir bag until the correct pressure is reached. Then depress the bag to mimic a sigh.

Question 20

What are 4 ways to visualize a PT’s respirations?

Answer 20

1. Watch PT’s chest
2. Watch flutter valves
3. Watch reservoir bag
4. Look for condensation in ET tube

Question 21

What is the maximum PSI for neonates?

Answer 21

10 cm H2O

Question 22

What is the maximum PSI for cats and small dogs?

Answer 22

15 cm H2O

Question 23

What is the maximum PSI for large dogs?

Answer 23

20 cm H2O

Question 24

What are 4 reasons a PT might be apneic or bradypneic?

Answer 24

1. Anesthesia is too deep
2. Drug induced
3. Hypothermia
4. PT is high risk (has an open chest cavity)

Question 25

What are 3 reasons a PT might be tachypneic?

Answer 25

1. Anesthesia is too light
2. PT is feeling pain
3. Hypoxia

Question 26

What does (MAP) stand for and what does it measure?

Answer 26

Mean Arterial Pressure; it measures the resistance and pressure of blood in the arteries during one heart beat.

Question 27

What is the lowest MAP reading you can have before you should take action?

Answer 27

<60 MAP

Question 28

After alerting the doctor, what is the next thing you should do when a PT’s MAP reads <60 two or more times in a row?