ECP Flashcards
What steps should be taken in getting an ECC hx?
HEAPC: History (incl. signalment, chief complaint, last normal, meds, etc.), Examination, Assessment, Plan, Communication
What things do you need to remember for a capsule hx?
Age, breed, sex, neuter status Primary complaint, how long it has been going on for Appetite, water intake and activity Vacc status Any current meds
What parameters should you check for a MBS assessment?
Cardiovascular: - CRT - mm colour - Heart rate - Cardiac auscultation - Pulse quality (profile, rate, rhythm) Respiratory - effort - rate - pattern - auscultation Nervous System - mentation - gait
What are some causes of global hypoperfusion?
- Hypovolaemia (eg. haemorrhage)
- Cardiogenic (eg. valvular disease)
- Obstructive (eg. GDV)
- Maldistributive (eg. SIRS)
What might cherry red gums indicate?
Carbon monoxide poisoning
What is the normal heart rate range in dogs and cats? How about normal resp rate?
Dogs: HR 80-120, Resp 15-30
Cats: 160-220
How might you expect the heart rate to differ in a dog with mild, moderate and severe hypoperfusion?
Normal- 80-120
Mild- 130-140
Moderate- 150-160 (pale mm)
Severe- 170-220 (grey/ muddy mm)
What may cause paradoxical breathing?
- Upper airway obst.
- Diaphragm dysfunction
- Stiff lungs
- Pleural effusion
What sign indicates impending resp arrest in cats?
Mydriasis
Most dogs with aspiration pneumonia often have harsh lung sounds in which lung field?
Cranioventral lung fields
***dorsocaudal distribution in puppies with neurogenic oedema
What are the stages of GA?
I: Disordered consciousness (more acute functions but unbalanced)
II: Excitement
III: Surgical anaesthesia
IV: Overdose
What are the 6 ASA physical status groupings?
1: normal healthy patient
2: mild systemic disease
3: severe systemic disease
4: severe systemic disease which is a constant threat to life
5: can’t survive without op
6: brain-dead
How long should you fast a monogastric animal befpre surgery? What about ruminants, small animals, birds, and neonates?
Monogastric- 12 hrs
Ruminants- 12-36 hours (withhold water for 12 hrs)
Others: Short to no fast
How would you prepare a diabetic patient for surgery?
Normal meal and insulin night before. Then, ideally we would give a small meal at midnight with half the insulin dose and then check AM insulin. If normal (<500g/dL), no insulin, if >500, 1/2 dose AM insulin. If low provide supp glucose
What are some examples of alpha2 adrenoceptor agonists?
Xylazine (both)
Medetomidine (SA)
Dexmedetomidine (SA)
Romifidine (LA)
What are some examples of opioids used in vet med? What about benzodiazepines?
Opioids: methadone, Butorphanol, Buprenorphine
Benzos: diazepam and midazolam
What are the main effects of Acepromazine (6)? What are some side effects (4)?
Tranquilizer, anti-arrhythmic, antiemetic, anti-histamine, spasmolytic, alpha2 antagonist
Side effects: Hypotension, collapse (Boxers), hypothermia, decrease seizure threshold
What are the main effects of Alpha2 agonists? What are some side effects?
Dose-dependent sedation, analgesia, muscle relaxation
(resp dep, bradycardia, cardiac arrhythmias)
Side effects: Hyperglycaemia, diuresis, decrease intestinal motility, vomiting
What are some side effects of xylazine?
Sensitze myocardium to catecholamine, emesis
What are the main effects of benzodiazapines?
Anxiolytic Anti-convulsant Anti-arrhythmic Appetite stimulant Muscle relaxation Minimal CV and resp effects
What are some effects of opioids?
CNS depression (excitment in horses/cats?) Resp system dep Histamine release GIT depression ADH release Hypothermia Emesis Change in pupil diameter
What is buprenorphine? How long does it last?
opioid (mu partial agonist)
Lasts for 4-6 hrs in dogs and 6-8 in cats.
Onset begins 30-60 mins after IM injection
What is butorphanol?
mu antagonist and kappa partial agonist
What are some contraindications to the use of opioids?
Pre-existing resp depression, head trauma, pancreatitus
What is attenuation of an x-ray beam?
Prportion of x-rays that are stopped/absorbed by a given thickness of matter
What effects whether the x-ray photon gets transmitted, absorbed or scattered?
- energy of x-ray (kVp)
- Atomic number of absorber
- Thickness and density of radiographed body part
Better contrast in radiographs are achieved with high or low kVp?
Low (less penetration, more absorption)
The Compton effect is influenced by what factors? How might it be avoided/minimized?
- Very dense absorbers
- Large volumes or irradiated tissue
- High kVp settings
Minimized by using lower kVp and restricting the collimated field
What are some advantages and disadvantages of computed radiography?
Adv: - digital image, great quality - uses existing radiograph equipment - less expensive than DR Disadv: - imaging plates needed - minimal time saving - need an image plate reader
What are some advantages and disadvantages of digital radiography?
Adv: -No processing time -good image quality Disadv: - More expensive - image sensors are expensive to replace - may need a new machine - cant't perform cross-table radiography if in-built sensor
The spatial resolution of DR systems is less than or more than conventional film screen radiography?
Less
What are the 4 steps to digital image processing?
- Histogram creation
- Data adjusted for over or under exposure
- Enhancement of image contrast (look up table)
- Edge enhancement/ smoothing
What is a stochastic effect?
Increased risk with increased dose/ have no threshold. Cumulative
What are the 4 basic methods of monitoring for radiation exposure? Which is most common?
- Optically stimulated Luminescent dosimeters (most common)
- Thermoluminescent dosemeter
- Film badges
- Pocket Dosimeters
Occupational dose limits state the vets should not receive more than ……..mSv per year averaged over consecutive years and should not receive more than ……. in any single year.
20 mSv
50 mSv
How can radiation exposure be minimized?
- Reducing time of exposure
- Increasing distance from radiation source
- Shielding of x-ray tube, room, and body
What is the source of electrons in an x-ray machine?
Cathode (tungsten filament)
What are the two main types of radiograph machine anodes? What does the anode do?
Rotating or stationary. Get positively charged when radiographic exposure is made and electrical potential diff is applied across x-ray tube. Electron energy is converted to heat and x-rays
In relation to x-ray beams, what are the following?
a. quantity
b. quality
c. intensity
Quantity= number of x-rays produced. This is dependent on electrical current (mA) Quality= energy of photons and their penetrating ability. this depends on kVp (potential difference) Intensity= amount of x radiation per unit area
What is the rate limiting step in taking radiographs?
Ability of the anode to dissipate heat.
What is a collimator?
Device to limit thee shape of the primary x-ray beam.
What happens when you press the x-ray button half way and then all the way?
1/2 way->Cathode is heated by the cathode current and the anode starts rotating
full-> potential voltage occurs for set exposure time
What is a rectification circuit needed for in radiography?
To convert main AC to DC for a potential difference t be applied across x-ray tube
What are some advantages of a three-phase generator?
- More power available to x-ray tube per unit time-> allows shorter exposure
- Intensity of X radiation generated is higher
- Radiation quality is greater bc it has less low energy x-rays
- tube utilization is more efficient bc target is not bombarded
The tube rating of an x-ray machine is based on what 4 factors?
- Focal spot size
- Target angle
- Anode speed
- Electrical current
What is one possible risk of using negative contrast agents?
Wall of a hollow organ that has damaged mucosa can allow gas to gain access to the vascular space.
How might you minimise the risk of death from an air embolism when performing a pneumocystogram?
Place the patient in left lateral recumbency and use CO2 or NO which is more soluble than room air.
What two agents can be used for positive contrast radiography?
Barium (GIT tract only)
Ionic agents
What are the two types of endotracheal tubes?
Murphy (has cuff and Murphy eye) and cole
What is a disadvantage of an endotracheal tube with a cuff?
In some species (eg. Birds), the tracheal ring is closed and cannot expand -> pressure necrosis.
What’s a disadvantage of rubber ET tubes?
Cannot see if it’s clean or not. Also need to put a lot of pressure to open cuff which makes it more difficult to judge how much pressure you are putting on the trachea
What is the purpose of an ET tube?
Allows sealing of airway to prevent aspiration and to provide positive pressure ventilation without air leaking
What are the two types of laryngoscopes?
Millers (straight)* and macintosh?
What are some indications and risks of mechanical ventilation?
Indications: O2 failure, ventilation failure (high CO2), post cardio-pulmonary resuscitation Risk: O2 toxicity Barotrauma Cardiovascular depression Infection
What are the different types of mechanical ventilation systems and what is most common? Give a breif description of each of these systems.
- Controlled mandatory ventilation ** (during GA)
- Positive and expiratory pressure* (Patient is mechanically ventilated. Helps keep airway open)
- SIMV (in ICU. Ventilator takes over breath as patient starts to breathe- controlled. decreases breathing work)
- PSV (decreases work of breathing; patient takes its own breath. ie. not controlled)
- CPAP (patient breathing sponataneously eg. those used in sleep apnea in humans)
How might you monitor respiratory function in an anesthetized animal?
- Resp rate, rhythm and effort
- Hb O2 saturation
- EtCO2
- Arterial blood gases
What factors might affect pulse oximeter readings?
- methaemoglobin, carboxyhaemoglobin
- low saturation
- poor peripheral perfusion
- anaemia
- skin pigmentation, dyes, fluorescent light etc.
What are some causes of hypoxaemia?
- Reduced partial pressure of O2 in the inspired air
- Alveolar hypoventilation
- Shunt
- Impaired alveolar capillary diffusion
What are some advantages of using inhalant anaesthetics?
They allow:
easy and rapid control of patient depth and the use of supp O2.
They are also fairly cost effective
What is the SVP of an inhalant anaesthetic?
=saturated vapor pressure= measure of the liquid’s ability to evaporate. (higher for Isoflurane than for sevoflurane)
The concentration of anaesthetic in the alveoli (at equilibrium) is a reflection of the concentration of anaesthetic in the brain. True or False?
True!
What factors affect the amount of anaesthetic reaching the alveoli? How may these factors be altered?
Inspired concentration of the anaesthetic and alveolar ventilation.
Inspired concentration can be increased by:
- increasing vaporizer setting
- increasing fresh gas flow (O2)
- Decrease volume of breathing circuit
What is the functional residual capacity? How is this important in considering alveolar ventilation?
= volume of air left in lungs after normal exhalation
Alveolar ventilation follows time constants (FRC/ Va)
What factors affect inhalant uptake?
solubility, cardiac output, alveolar-venous pressure gradient
What has a higher blood:gas partition coefficient, Sevo or iso?
Iso. ie. it is more soluble and therefore has slower induction
What are some important points to remember about rabbits in relation to anaesthesia? (7)
- small lung volume
- obligate nasal breathers
- cannot regurgitate
- should not be fasted (gut stasis)
- blood can be taken from saphenous or jugular vv.
- catheter can be placed in marginal ear vein
- pre-med and oxygenation is essential
What can be used for pre-med and anaesthesia in rabbits?
Pre-med:
- butorphanol (IV/SC)
- Butorphanol and midazolam
Induction:
- midazolam, buprenorphine
- medetomidine and ketamine, buprenorphine
Assisted feeding in rabbits post-op is essential within the first 2 hours. How would you feed a rabbit if it doesn’t lap voluntarily?
Syringe feed 20ml/kg by mouth using catheter every 2 hours
What are some important points to remember about rats/mice in relation to anaesthesia? (4)
- nasal breathers
- cannot regurgitate
- eyes will proptose easily when fitted with mask
- don’t need to fast
What are some important points to remember about ferrets in relation to anaesthesia? (5)
- can regurgitate
- strong jaw tone that is slow to decrease under ga
- cephalic or saphenous for catheter (skin is thick and less elastic so may need to make incision)
- must be fasted prior to ga (4 hours or 2 for juvenile)
- anaesthesia should be delayed if any signs of endocrine disease
What are some important points to remember about pythons in relation to anaesthesia? (6)
- poikilothermic
- lungs are fragile and shouldn’t be overinflated
- can breath hold
- IV catheter via cut down over jugular
- IV injection via caudal vein (caudal to cloaca)
- fluids may be given via intracoelomic injection
*** Similar for bearded dragons
What can be used to anaesthetise frogs?
Immersion in tricane methanesulfonate (note, they become apnoeic with immersion anaesthesia)
Where can IV injections be given in a turtle?
Jugular or dorsal venous sinus
How does a multidimensional pain scale work?
What ones are available for dogs?
Pain assessment scales that are a composite of simple descriptive scales relating to particular aspects of behaviour associated with pain. May also have a physiological component to them.
Dogs: Glasgow, Colorado and Melbourne pain scales for acute pain. Helsinki pain scale for chronic pain
What multidimensional pain scales are available for cats?
Acute pain: Glasgow, Colorado and UNSP Botucatu MDPS
Chronic: QoL questionnaire
What is the most common cause of chronic pain in small animals? Why is it hard to recognise chronic pain?
Osteoarthritis
Insidious in onset, subtle changes over a long amount of time, often associated with “growing old”
What are some pharmacological options for chronic pain therapy?
Oral opioids, transdermal fentanyl NMDA antagonists Mood altering drugs NSAIDs (Acupuncture analgesia and physiotherapy are other non-pharmacological options)
What is transdermal fentanyl and how does it work?
Class of opioid which changes how your body perceives pain. It provides long duration analgesia but has a slow onset time (~12 hrs in dogs-leave for 2-3 days; ~2hours in horses-leave for about 24 hours). It has a matrix transdermal system which releases fentanyl proportional to the SA it is in contact with
What is ketamine and what are its advantages and disadvantages in terms of its use?
NMDA receptor antagonist which targets receptors in the spinal cord. These receptors are activated by injury/ insult.
Ketamine:
-is implicated in the development of central sensitization (more sensitive to pain)
-is a sedative and analgesic (but can only be used in hospital)
-does not depress CVS or resp system
What are some NMDA receptor antagonists useful for management of pain? Which*** of these can be prescribed for at home use in animals?
Ketamine
methadone
meperidine
Amantadine*** (also an antiviral agent. It may decrease allodynia and hyperalgesia)
What is tramadol and what are its uses? In what species does it work particularly well in?
It’s a centrally acting adjuvant analgesic drug which decreases serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake and acts as a weak opioid agonist.
Cats (not so great in dogs because it is not metabolised properly)
What is gabapentin? What are it’s uses? How is it excreted?
An adjuvant analgesic drug which acts as an antiepileptic drug. It can be used for neuropathic pain, cancer, primary nerve compression and gives pain relief over several weeks.
Kidneys
What is Amitriptyline? What are some contraindications for this drug?
Mood altering drug that blocks noradrenergic and serotonin reuptake. Hence can be used for neuropathic pain.
CIs:
-seizure, urinary retention, severe liver disease, patient already on serotonin sparing drugs (note: takes about a week to work)
What are biphosphonates? What are some examples?
Drugs which inhibit osteoclast activity and thus give osteoblast cells a chnace to work. Used as adjuvant therapy for the management of osteosarcoma (or for horses with laminitis). They may also have a role in the inhibition of metastatic bone cancer cells.
Examples include: pamidronate (dog), tiludronate (equine)
What is the MAC? How does it relate to potency of a drug?
minimum alveolar concentration= percentage of inhalant that will prevent movement in response to supramaximal noxious stimuli in 50 of the pop. Inversely proportional to potency
What are the MAC values for Isoflurane and sevoflurane? Which is more potent?
Iso: 1.3%***
sevo: 2.4%
What is the “surgical MAC”?
What is MACawake and MACbar?
ED95= 1.3 x MAC MACawake= MAC in humans when eyes open in response to verbal command (lower than MAC) MACbar= MAC necessary to prevent adrenergic response to surgical stimulation (higher)
What factors increase and decrease MAC?
Increase: -drugs causing CNS stim -hyperthermia Decrease: -drugs causing CNS depression -hypotension -hyponatraemia -hypothermia -hypoxaemia (<40mmHg) -hypercapnea (>95mmHg) -pregnancy
What is the normal PaO2 in an anaesthetised patient?
What about the normal PaCO2?
500mmHg
40mmHg
What are some cardiovascular effects of inhalants (5)?
What are some respiratory effects of inhalants(2)?
HEART:
- Decreased CO (negative inotrope)
- Variable effects on HR
- Decreased arterial BP
- Increased automaticity of myocardium
- Sensitise myocardium to arrhythmogenic effects of catecholamines
RESP:
- Dose dependent decrease in minute ventilation (bronchodilation)
- Increased PaCO2 (hypoventilation)
What are some CNS effects of inhalants (3)? What are some renal/hepatic effects (5)?
CNS:
- dose-related depression
- decreased cerebral metabolic oxygen requirement
- increased cerebral blood flow
RENAL/HEPATIC:
- decreased RBF and GFR
- methoxyflurane is nephrotoxic
- decreased hepatic blood flow
- decreased drug clearance capacity
- halothane hepatitis
What would you use to treat malignant hyperthermia resulting from inhalant anaesthetic?
Dantrolene
What is compound A?
Gas formed in rebreathing systems when sevoflurane is degraded by soda lime or baralyme. It is nephrotoxic in rats
Why is NO no longer used?
- Not inactivated by activated charcoal- can’t be scavenged!
- Diffuses in closed gas spaces (pneumothorax, GDV etc)
- Not as potent as other drugs
- 2nd gas effect
- diffusion hypoxia (occurs if no O2 given after procedure)