Preparation for Anaesthesia Flashcards
What are the steps in preparation for anaesthesia?
- Consider signalment & take a history
- Include anesthesia history
- Examine animal
- Consider additional diagnostics
- Decide on ASA category (see linked pdf)
- Discuss the risks with owner
- Gain informed consent
- Consider signalment & take a history
- Gather the information about:
○ Species
○ Age
○ Breed
○ Neutering status
○ Demeanour
How can age/breed affect anaesthetic use?
Geriatric animals
Higher anaesthetic risk because of their reduced cardiac, hepatic and renal function,
Brachycephalic
Increased risk to airway obstruction
Some breeds have increased responsiveness to anaesthetic drugs
Boxers can be more sensitive to acepromazine
Delayed recovery in sighthounds
How does demeanour affect anaesthetic use?
highly stressed animals post risk to staff - need sedation (pre-meds)
- Include anesthesia history
Question the owner and review notes about any previous anaesthetics
○ Have they had any problems?
○ What worked well?
○ How they behaved after anaesthetic
- Examine Animal
Thorough physical exam of all body systems
- Consider Additional diagnostics
To identify underlying disorders which could influence who you would manage patient
Based on patients history and physical examination
Case by case basis
Adjunct to history and examination
Pre-anaesthetic bloods is useful in some groups
○ Geriatric patients
○ Clinically unwell patients
What are the minimum pre-anaesthetic tests?
Packed cell volume (PCV)
Total solids/protein (TS)
Blood glucose
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
Urine specific gravity (USG)
- Decide on ASA Category
ASA - American Anaesthesiologists Association
framework to summaries pre-anaesthetic evaluation
Human framework modified for animals
High ASA score = high morbidity/mortality risk
- Discuss risks with owner
Procedure risks
Anaesthesia risks
Need signed consent
- Gain signed consent
Must be informed consent
Discuss what degree of intervention should be performed in the event of a life threatening emergency
What should occur before an animal undergoes anaesthesia after preparation?
Starve animal - don’t restrict water unless gastric surgery
Weigh animal
Plan anaesthetic and analgesic
Prepare equipment
Prepare drugs/ IV fluids
Start anaesthetic record - fill in patient details
How long should cats/dogs be starved prior to anaesthetic?
6 hours
Why should cats/dogs be starved prior to anaesthetic?
reduces risk of regurgitation and aspiration pneumonia
Why do we used an IV catheter?
Allows direct administration and rapid uptake of:
Anaesthetic
Analgesic
Emergency drugs
