Exam 1 - Post-op Complications Flashcards
What are the normal recovery period activities?
Turn off anesthetic gas Patient regains gag or swallow reflex Extubation Regains consciousness Sits sternal Walks
What should be monitored during recovery?
Cardiovascular status Ventilation Oxygenation Pain Body temperature Tolerance of the ET tube Signs of abnormal behavior
What are some recovery related complications?
Emergence delirium, Mu agonist opioid dysphoria, pain, laryngeal trauma, regurgitation, aspiration +/- pneumonia, upper airway obstruction, hypoventilation and hypercapnea, and hypothermia
What three problems have the same clinical signs?
emergence delirium, Mu agonist opioid dysphoria, and pain
What clinical signs are associated with recovery related complications?
Vocalization in dogs, uncontrolled or controlled muscle movements, anxiety, dysphoria, and hyperthermia in cats associated with opioid dysphoria
What is emergence delirium?
post-anesthetic excitement
What can be done to mitigate emergence delirium?
administer a tranquilizer (acepromazine/dexmedetomidine)
What does dysphoria mean?
you cannot interupt the behavior
What condition is associated with Mu agonist opioid dysphoria in cats?
hyperthermia
What can be done to mitigate Mu agonist opioid dysphoria?
Naloxone or butorphenol
If pain is an issue, what can be administered to mitigate it?
a mu agonist
What can regurgitation lead to?
esophagitis, pneumonitis, or pneumonia
How do you mitigate regurgitation?
maintain appropriate ET cuff pressures
If a patient is hypoventilating or hypercapneic with an elevated ETCO2, what may you need to do?
assist ventilation with an ambu-bag or O2
If there is an upper airway obstruction, what should be done?
reintubate the patient
What are common complications in our feline patients?
pain, respiratory distress, hyperthermia, and hyperactivity
What are common complications in our canine patients?
pain and hypothermia
What are the causes for post-operative pain?
deficiency of pain medication, tissue trauma, surgical complication, and is often associated with hypothermia