Avian Dr. Ambrisko

Question 1

Birds dont tolerate ___ & ____ well

Answer 1

apnea & bradycardia

Question 2

in birds considering respiration what is more effective than in mammals

Answer 2

gas exchange is more effective than in mammals

Question 3

What is unique about respiratory muscles in birds

Answer 3

no diaphragm

chest mm cause sternum to move outward

Question 4

What do you need to avoid if air sacs are open

Answer 4

Avoid abdominal lavage if air sacs are open

Question 5

Where do you want to avoid IO injections in birds

Answer 5

Into pneumatic bones (e.g. humerus, femur)

air sacs extend into these

Question 6

What are the bones ok to give IO injections in birds

Answer 6

ulna & tibiotarsus

Question 7

What is dive response in birds

Answer 7

A stress response

Bradycardia & apnea up to 5 min

prevent with premedication & whole head into mask not just beak

Question 8

Avian heart characteristics

Answer 8

larger hearts, lower HR, higher BP & CO than similarly sized mammals

generally

Question 9

Renal portal system

Answer 9

Kidneys receive venous blood from the legs

Unlikely to have clinical significance for anesthesiology

Question 10

Injection sites for birds

Answer 10

SQ: dorsum between wings, wing web, leg web, inguinal skinfold

IM: pectoral & thigh muscles

IV (IVC placement also): ulnar, dorsal metatarsal, jugular v.

Question 11

Premedications for birds

Answer 11

Opioid alone: butorphanol or morphine

Opioid - benzo combo: benzos good sedatives in many birds

Alpha2 agonists may be needed for larger, aggressive spp.

Caution: CV side effects

Question 12

Opioids in birds

Answer 12

More kappa opioid receptors in birds brain vs mammals

Butorphanol is effective analgesic & often used

Morphine & other mu agonist are also used - species specific variabiltiy may be wide

Question 13

Induction of birds

Answer 13

Mostly inhalation agents via mask

Sevoflurane preferred

whole head in mask, watch for dive response!

Injectable agents;

• Ket + benzo IM*
• Propofol (apnea)*

Alfaxalone IM - almost no CV effects!

Question 14

intubation of birds

Answer 14

visibility of larynx is normally good

no epiglottis

Syrinx is sound organ not larnyx, birds may vocalize when intubated

complete tracheal rings

use non-cuffed ETT or Cole (shoulder) tube

Question 15

Since birds have no alveolar lung what does MAC stand for

Answer 15

Minimum Anesthetic Concentration

MAC in birds are similar to mammals: 1.3 - 1.4%

Question 16

Local anes in birds

Answer 16

They don’t like locals!

use no more than 4 mg/kg lidocaine to lessen toxicities!

Question 17

Fluid therapy in birds

Answer 17

IV or IO preferred

Question 18

Main 3 monitoring parameters in birds

Answer 18

ECG

Pulse Ox

Doppler as flow monitior (ulnar, metatarsal art.)

Question 19

ECG in birds

Answer 19

have large negative deflection on ECG (S wave)

Question 20

What can occur in birds in response to drugs (opioids, Alpha2 agonists), pain or hypothermia

Answer 20

Bradycardia

Dangerous & should not be tolerated

Tx ASAP with atropine, achieve sufficient anes depth/analgesia, warm up

Question 21

Problem with Pulse ox in birds

Answer 21

inaccurate in birds

may still provide HR if it is reading (very high HR in not detectable by pulse ox)

Only accurate method to assess oxygenation is art BG.

Question 22

Why is apnea so important to monitor in birds

Answer 22

Birds have small lung volume (FRC)

Apnea may lead to desaturation

need to act quickly

RR: small birds 30-40 bpm

larger birds 10-24 bpm