The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice
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Small animal patients may need to be anesthetized in the periparturient period for emergency, nonobstetric reasons, elective ovariohysterectomy, or cesarean section. In each case, the physiologic changes in the dam must be accounted for in designing an anesthetic protocol, but the requirements of the fetuses will be different. Subsequent to birth, the neonatal animal may need to be anesthetized, and the unique physiology and pharmacology at this age is described.
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Vet. Clin. North Am. Small Anim. Pract. · Nov 2000
ReviewPhysical examination of the pulmonary system.
Physical examination of the pulmonary system includes inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation. By integrating these findings, it is often possible to diagnose and differentiate pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, pulmonary fibrosis, and tracheal collapse. The veterinarian can use the physical examination optimally by initially performing examinations with those who are experienced with the methods and with an understanding of the relatively simple laws of physiology and physics governing transmission of sounds from the patient's lung.
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Local anesthetics have the unique ability to produce complete blockade of sensory nerve fibers and prevent or pre-empt the development of secondary (central) sensitization to pain. For this reason, local and regional anesthetic techniques are often used with opioids, alpha 2-receptor agonists, dissociatives, and anti-inflammatory drugs as part of a multimodal strategy to manage pain. Lidocaine and bupivacaine are the local anesthetics used most commonly in dogs and cats. ⋯ Doses of local anesthetics, especially those for cats and small dogs, should always be calculated carefully. In many animals, the most simple and elegant way to control pain perioperatively is to perform a local or regional anesthetic block. Veterinarians should not hesitate to incorporate local and regional anesthetic techniques into their pain management strategies for dogs and cats.
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Vet. Clin. North Am. Small Anim. Pract. · May 2000
ReviewAnesthesia for the emergency small animal patient.
Anesthesia for the debilitated or emergency patient requires a thorough knowledge of the pharmacologic and physiologic effects of the anesthetic agents available. Preoperative evaluation and preparation of the patient, intraoperative monitoring and prompt attention to potential crises, and postoperative monitoring and pain management are all critical to the success of dealing with these cases. Special attention is devoted to cases with cardiovascular, respiratory, or neurologic instability.
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Establishing and maintaining vascular access is often vital to the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management of the small animal emergency surgical patient. Vascular access may be used for the delivery of crystalloids, colloids, blood components, medications, and anesthetic or sedative agents. ⋯ The small animal emergency and critical care veterinarian should have a thorough knowledge of vascular access techniques, including peripheral and central venous catheterization, intraosseous, and arterial access. Competence in percutaneous, percutaneous facilitative, and surgical cutdown approaches should ensure that vascular access can always be established in the critically ill patient.