The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice
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Vet. Clin. North Am. Small Anim. Pract. · Mar 1992
ReviewAdvantages of and guidelines for using neuromuscular blocking agents.
Neuromuscular blocking agents, although not commonly used in veterinary practice, should be considered when muscle relaxation is needed to facilitate surgical exposure and minimize tissue trauma. These drugs should be administered only once respiration has been controlled and anesthetic agents have been administered to induce unconsciousness and analgesia. Following administration of neuromuscular blocking drugs, neuromuscular and cardiovascular function must be monitored.
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Vet. Clin. North Am. Small Anim. Pract. · Mar 1992
ReviewDisadvantages of neuromuscular blocking agents.
Neuromuscular blocking agents have few indications and significant contraindications or problems associated with their use. The need for controlled ventilation and the difficulties of monitoring anesthetic depth when using neuromuscular blocking agents are overriding factors that mitigate against their routine use.
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Vet. Clin. North Am. Small Anim. Pract. · Mar 1992
ReviewPrecautions when using alpha-2 agonists as anesthetics or anesthetic adjuvants.
Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists have some unique properties that could theoretically make them useful in the perianesthetic period: they reduce the MAC of inhaled anesthetics, and they are reversible. They also have properties that may limit their usefulness, such as marked decreases in cardiac output. Their clinical utility awaits further studies.
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At the time of cesarean section, the mother may suffer respiratory depression, hypotension, increased gastric acidity, and increased predisposition to regurgitation, and the newborn may suffer anesthetic-induced respiratory depression. Preanesthetic metaclopramide, cimetidine, and anticholinergic agent are recommended. ⋯ Neuroleptanalgesic and low-dose general anesthetic, with local anesthetic line-blocks, are preferred techniques. Supportive care of the newborn is mandatory.