Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
AAHA anesthesia guidelines for dogs and cats.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
- Year:
- 2011
- Authors:
- Bednarski, Richard et al.
- Affiliation:
- The Ohio State University · United States
Plain-English summary
When your dog or cat needs anesthesia, it's important for the veterinarian to carefully assess and prepare them beforehand. They will usually give your pet some calming and pain-relieving medication before starting the anesthesia. During the procedure, a gas anesthetic is often used, and there are additional methods to manage pain, like local nerve blocks or continuous infusions of pain medications. The vet will keep a close eye on your pet's heart, breathing, and overall health throughout the process to ensure everything goes smoothly. After the procedure, they will monitor your pet's recovery, including their temperature and comfort level, to make sure they are safe and feeling okay.
Abstract
Safe and effective anesthesia of dogs and cats rely on preanesthetic patient assessment and preparation. Patients should be premedicated with drugs that provide sedation and analgesia prior to anesthetic induction with drugs that allow endotracheal intubation. Maintenance is typically with a volatile anesthetic such as isoflurane or sevoflurane delivered via an endotracheal tube. In addition, local anesthetic nerve blocks; epidural administration of opioids; and constant rate infusions of lidocaine, ketamine, and opioids are useful to enhance analgesia. Cardiovascular, respiratory, and central nervous system functions are continuously monitored so that anesthetic depth can be modified as needed. Emergency drugs and equipment, as well as an action plan for their use, should be available throughout the perianesthetic period. Additionally, intravenous access and crystalloid or colloids are administered to maintain circulating blood volume. Someone trained in the detection of recovery abnormalities should monitor patients throughout recovery. Postoperatively attention is given to body temperature, level of sedation, and appropriate analgesia.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22058343/