Fun Facts
This common surgical patient can sleep for up to 18 hours a day, but good luck getting them to rest after surgery!
What is a cat?
Pre-op, Intra-op, Post-op
What are the 3 stages of the surgical process.
Any changes since last visit? Current medications or supplements? What they are on AND WHEN they were last given? Medication or anesthetics reactions? Any previous known problems? When pet last drank? Last ate? How much?
What are the components of a good pre-anesthesia questionnaire?
Unmanaged acute pain has a higher likelihood of incomplete resolution, resulting in chronic pain.
Why is it important to manage acute pain properly?
IV, IM, Mask
What are the ways of inducing anesthesia?
These surgical patients are notorious for swallowing things they shouldn't, from socks to rocks, and they don't seem to learn!
What is a labrador?
Induce & maintain general anesthesia
Monitor & ensure patient stability
Sterile preparation of surgical site
Successful completion of surgical procedure
What are the goals of the intraoperative stage.
Certify that they are the owner of the pet and that the owner signing the form,
Pet’s identifying information,
Summarize the pet’s diagnosis,
Summarize the procedure that is planned,
Estimate,
Where owner can be reached RELIABLY today, \
CPR status
What are the components of a consent conversation?
Demeanor, Response to people, Posture, Mobility, Activity, Response to touch, Attention to painful area, Vocalization
What are parameters used in pain scores?
Short procedures and to calm the patient.
What are the cases to use sedation?
Despite just undergoing surgery, this patient will somehow convince their owner that they're absolutely fine—especially if food is involved.
What is a labrador?
Over 60% of procedure related deaths happen in this part of the operative process.
What is Post-op period
Name and description of procedure
Expected outcomes
Potential complications
Procedure benefits and alternatives
What are the components of informed consent?
Results in heightened or exaggerated pain states, Often does not respond to conventional analgesic treatment, Preventing surgical pain before it starts is key to avoiding this
What is wind up pain?
Analgesia, Sedation, +/- Anti-nausea medications
What are pre-anesthetic medication goals?
After surgery, this animal’s impressive cone of shame is often more of a wrecking ball for your furniture.
What is a boxer?
Alarms are going off, lights are flashing, people are running around, your SpO2 says 87 and the blood pressure is not picking up. Your surgery tech asks you, the RVT who is everyone's favorite, what to do.
What is MONITOR THE PATIENT NOT THE MONITORS :-) You calmly take 6 seconds to check the breathing, gum color, listen to the heart and palpate the femoral pulse of your patient. You find all of these to be normal, wet and replace the SpO2 monitor and adjust the blood pressure cuff.
Medical History
Physical Exam
Diagnostics
What is the minimum database for anesthesia procedures?
An aversive sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage
The process of taking a patient from awake state to an unconscious state
This is what a cat calls a well-executed leap to the top of the fridge.
What is "purrkour"?
Yoga, Meditation, Talking with friends/colleagues, Music, Time off, Vacation, Hobbies, Working out, Journaling, Hiking, Movies
What are self care options?
CBC
Chemistry Panel
U/A
+/- Clotting times
+/- Drug monitoring levels
What are the common diagnostics used for preanesthesia screening?
Maintain fluid homeostasis, Perioperative hemorrhage can lead to fluid loss, (Severe hemorrhage will require additional support than crystalloid IVF)
What are the ways IV fluids help offset effects of anesthesia & surgery
Phenothiazines (acepromazine)
Benzodiazepines (diazepam, midazolam)
Alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonists (xylazine, medetomidine and dexmedetomidine)
What are common sedation medications?