DM1 Pt6-1 Oxygen therapy & Maintaining Body temp Flashcards
Why is supplemental oxygen important during anesthesia?
Providing supplemental oxygen (at least 30%) reduces the risk of hypoxia and prevents organ damage during anesthesia by ensuring adequate oxygen delivery to tissues.
What is the recommended gas mixture for anesthesia if oxygen is combined with another carrier gas?
A 50/50 mixture of oxygen with either nitrous oxide or medical air is recommended, ensuring at least 50% oxygen concentration.
Why are cats more vulnerable to hypothermia during anesthesia?
Cats have a large surface area relative to their volume, which increases heat loss. Additionally, anesthesia disrupts thermoregulatory mechanisms, immobility reduces heat generation, and procedures like clipping hair and opening body cavities exacerbate heat loss.
What are some detrimental effects of hypothermia during anesthesia?
Hypothermia reduces the requirement for anesthetic agents, slows metabolism (delaying recovery), promotes bradycardia, increases the risk of arrhythmias, reduces platelet activity (increasing bleeding), and can cause shivering during recovery, increasing oxygen demand.
What is a precautionary step to support body temperature after premedication?
Ensure a warm environment (ambient temperature above 21°C) and adequate bedding after premedication to prevent hypothermia, as some sedative drugs disrupt thermoregulation.
What types of warming apparatus can be used to prevent hypothermia during surgery?
- Hot air blowers (e.g., Bair Hugger)
- Electrical heating blankets (with multiple settings)
- Circulating warm waterbeds
- Warm water-filled surgical gloves
How can heat and moisture exchangers (HME) help prevent heat loss during anesthesia?
HMEs warm and humidify inspired anesthetic gases by trapping heat and moisture from expired gases, reducing heat loss via the respiratory tract.
What are the disadvantages of using HMEs in small cats?
HMEs increase dead space and resistance to respiration, which can impair breathing in small cats. Additionally, as the HME becomes moist during anesthesia, resistance increases.
Why is it important to monitor body temperature post-operatively?
Hypothermia can still occur during recovery due to immobility and a cold environment. Monitoring temperature ensures early detection and intervention to maintain normothermia until the cat is fully awake and has a body temperature of at least 37°C.
What are some methods to prevent hypothermia during the post-operative period?
- Use hot air devices for warming.
- Monitor body temperature regularly until normothermia (37°C) is reached.
- Avoid electrical heating blankets or waterbeds due to safety risks in the recovery period.
How can an incubator be useful during recovery from anesthesia?
An incubator provides a warm environment and allows for easy visualization of the patient. It can also be used to increase the inspired oxygen concentration by feeding an oxygen line into the incubator, which is helpful for cats with respiratory or cardiovascular complications.
