Week 8 - Anaesthesia Flashcards
What is the purpose of anaesthesia?
To alleviate pain and induce muscle relaxation for surgery
Reversible state of unconsciousness, immobility, muscle relaxation and loss of sensation throughout the entire body
Challenges and risks associated with anaesthesia
- Most anaesthetic agents have a narrow therapeutic index
- most anaesthetic agents cause significant changes in cardiovascular and pulmonary function
- The tech must be able to rapidly assess multiple pieces of information and react to those that require action
- the technician must have an understanding of the significance of physical parameters
What is sedation? What are some examples?
Characterised by central depression accompanied by drowsiness. Minimally aware of surrounding but can be aroused by noxious stimuli
- Benzodiazepines (midazolam, diazepam)
- A2 adrenergic agonists (medetomidine, xylazine)
What is tranquilisation? What are some examples?
Drug induced state of calm in which the patient is reluctant to move, and is aware but unconcerned of surroundings
- acepromazine
- azaperone (pigs)
- Droperidol
How is general anaesthesia given/admissined
- inhalational
- injectable (subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular)
- oral
- immersion/brachial/ transcutaneous irrigation
How is general anaesthesia given/admissined
- inhalational
- injectable (subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular)
- oral
- immersion/brachial/ transcutaneous irrigation
What are the roles of a VT in anaesthesia?
- preparation, operation and maintenance of anaesthesia equipment
- History taking from the owner
- Pre- anaesthesia examination of the patient
- preparation of anaesthetic drugs
- Monitoring and reacting during anaesthesia
- Post anaesthesia monitoring
What is the brief pre-preparation process of putting an animal under anaesthesia?
- preparation and maintenance of equipment
- History taking from owners
- Pre-anaesthesia examination
- Thermometer
- Make a plan for every patient
What are physiological considerations?
- Respiratory
- cardiovascular
- Hepatic
- CNS
- Renal
- GIT
- Endocrine
Why is it important to have an anaesthesia plan?
to be prepared for anything that can occur during surgery
anticipate for problems such as hypothermia, hypoventilation, bradycardia, hypotension, hypoxemia
plan to respond
Have emergency drugs available and prepared
What is the brief the process of putting an animal under anaesthesia?
- Premedication - provides sedation, analgesia and “anaesthetic sparing” with induction and maintenance agents
- induction- give pre-oxygensation with agent dependant upon disease and physical status
- alfaxalone
- Thiopentone
- Propofol
- Inhalant
- Valium/ ketamine - preparation of anaesthetic drugs
- monitoring and reacting during anaesthesia
Why do we monitor patients under anaesthesia?
- patient must be unaware
- have adequate analgesia
- must be still
Why do we monitor patients under anaesthesia?
- patient must be unaware
- have adequate analgesia
- must be still and in a stable physiological state
- tissues perfused with O2 blood and CO2 removed
- Body temperature must be maintained
- anaesthesia must be reversible
Qualities and abilities of a successful anaesthesia technician
3 monitoring philosophies
- when measuring thing biological, one measurement gives a window into a dynamic situation
Repeated measurements give some idea of the dynamic picture
- All monitors have limited accuracy and reliability - trends mean more than numerical values
- The best equipment does not equal to a good job of monitoring, check the patient before checking the monitor, monitor the patient not the monitor
cannot replace a skilled tech
inform the veterinarian of the information gathered during observation, monitoring devices
