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Introduction and history

of anaesthesia, General
consideration for
anaesthesia in animals
By – Dr. Anil bharti

PG 1 year
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Anaesthesia
The term anesthesia, derived from the Greek term anaisthaesia,

meaning “insensibility,” is used to describe the loss of sensation

to the entire or any part of the body.

Anesthesia is induced by

drugs that depress the activity of nervous tissue locally, regionally, or within the central
nervous system (CNS).

The term 'anaesthesia was coined by Oliver Wendell Holmes in 1846.

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- Terms
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- Terms

 1. Analgesia- absence of pain

 2.Tranquilization- Mild form of CNS depression, Behavior

changes, patient become relaxed but remain aware of
surrounding, no analgasic effect

 3.Sedation- Drowsiness, patient unaware about surrounding but

responsive to painful mainipulation.
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 4. Narcosis – Deep sleep

 5 Hypnosis – Artificially induced sleep, moderate CNS

depression

 6. Local anaesthesia – loss of sensation in circumscribed body

area

 7. Regional anaesthesia - Insensibility in a larger and limited

area of the body ex – Paralumbar nerve blockage
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 8. General anaesthesia – Drug induced unconsciousness,

 controlled, reversible depression of the CNS with

 analgesia.

 ➡️Sensory, motor and autonomic reflex functions are attinuted.

 9. Surgical anesthesia – Stage 3 of anaesthesia, plane 2 , aprox

all major surgies
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General consideration-

 1. Status of patient

 2. breed

 3. temperament

 4. physical/health status

 5. purpose of anesthesia

 6. familiarity with the drugs to be used

 7. any concurrent medication

 8. equipment and available assistance

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1.Status of patient-

 Category I: It includes those patients which are normal and healthy, e.g.
animals admitted for tail amputation dehorning castration or healthy animals
used in experiments.

 Category II: It includes those patients which have some disease but without
any systemic involvement, e.g. animals admitted for treatment of uncompli-
Cated hernia skin tumours corneal opacity, etc.

 Category III: It includes those patients which have some disease with mode-
rate systemic involvement, e.g. Com- pound fractures, fever, dehydration, etc.
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Category IV: It includes those patients which have a disease which is a

cons- tant threat to the life of the patient, e.g. Diaphragmatic hernia,
obstructive uro- lithiasis, intestinal obstruction, etc.

Category V: It includes those patients who are not expected to survive

longer with or without surgery, e.g. Coma, or moribund patients.

 Category VI: Any emergency surgery is included in this category.

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-Safe anaesthetic practices
 ► 1. use of reversible agents whenever possible

 ► 2. endotracheal intubation should be mandatory to assure

patent airway at all times

 3. careful monitoring of all anesthetized patients, including the

preanesthetic and recovery periods

 ▸ 4. preanesthetic fasting (food 8-12 hours; water 2-4 hours in

small animals), except in the very small, young or debilitated
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-Pre- Anesthetic

A. Be sure you are familiar with the physical status of each patient-

1. obtain complete history and review prior toanesthesia

2. perform a thorough physical examination

3. an accurate weight is important ▸ particularly in small

animals▸adjust for lean body weight

4. review laboratory data> determines need for preanesthetic

stabilization▸directs drug selection▸ directs further preoperative tests
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 B. Formulate specific anesthetic plan-

 1. choose a protocol appropriate for the patient

 2. anticipate complications that may arise based on physical

examination and laboratory data, the procedurebeing performed,
anesthetic drugs used (plan for failure)

 3. calculate doses carefully

 4. draw up drug, label syringes appropriately

 5. prepare anesthetic record

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 C. Place intravenous catheter-

 1. aseptic technique

 2. place after premedication, prior to theinduction of anesthesia>

3. exceptions▸ intractable animals that must be chemically
immobilized prior to handling

 ➤ restraint for catheter placement causes excessive stress and

danger to the patientshort procedures in healthy patients
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 D. Gather equipment and supplies

 1. Endotracheal tube

 2. Laryngoscope

 3. Preparation of Anesthetic Machine

 4. Assemble monitors

 5. Other Equipment
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-:Pre- medication

 A. Selection is based on:

 1. patient condition

 2. patient temperament

 3. procedure

 4. familiarity with drugs

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-Induction

thiopental

▸ Propofol

Thiopental propofol (1:1)

➤ diazepam-ketamine

▸ Telazol

▸ Neuroleptanalgesic combinations
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 Endotracheal Intubation-

 > be prepared - this should be accomplished quickly (but don't panic!!)

 choose a range of tube sizes

 cats: 3.0-5.0 mm 1.d.

 dogs: 4,0 mm l.d.-12 mm Ld.

 ➤ adequate anesthesia is required prior to intubationLaryngospasm

can occur (especially in cats)
Procedure-

 ► 2 people
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 ▸ animal in sternal position, lined up along its longitudinal

 > once appropriate depth of anesthesia has been reached, pull

tongue out of mouthaxis

 ▸use laryngoscope!

 ➤ cats> larynx is sensitive and prone to laryngospasm

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-Maintenance

 General Considerations-

 ➤ once the patient is at an appropriate level of anesthesia, turn

down vaporizer and oxygen flow rate to maintenance levels.

 Following induction, check pulse, respiratory rate, pulse quality,

capillary refill time.

 ▸ start anesthetic record

 attach monitors start fluid administration at an appropriaterate

(5-10 ml/kg/hr)
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-Recovery

 ▸ Continue oxygen administration as long as possible

aftervaporizer has been turned off

 Deflate cuff and remove tube only when swallowing isobserved

 ► Watch carefully during recovery.

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-Recovery
 Post-anesthetic monitoring should continue until the animal can maintain
sternal recumbency or lift its head and until vital signs are stable

 ▸ External heat source should be applied to raisebody temperature to within

1 or 2 degrees of normal body temperature

 ►Stimulating the animal will speed recovery but keep in mind that once the
stimulation is stopped that the animal will likely go back to sleep

 Post-operative analgesics should be administered as required.

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 Thank You