Apr 1, 2010
By:
Kurt A. Grimm, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVA, DACVCP
Pulse oximeters are relatively inexpensive and provide continuous information about pulse rate and hemoglobin saturation. Pulse oximetry has limitations that need to be understood by the anesthetist.
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Apr 1, 2010
By:
Kurt A. Grimm, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVA, DACVCP
Accurate measurement of pain perception in individual non-human patients is impossible. However, management of pain requires objective measures of effectiveness of the applied treatment.
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Apr 1, 2010
By:
Kurt A. Grimm, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVA, DACVCP
Patients are typically sedated or anesthetized and placed in sternal or lateral recumbency. Next, the cranial edge of the wings of the ilia are palpated.
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Apr 1, 2010
By:
Kurt A. Grimm, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVA, DACVCP
Anesthetic and pain related mortality would appear to be an easily quantifiable statistic that could be used to measure the outcome of the profession's current anesthetic practices. However, to rely solely on death rate as the measure of the quality of anesthetic care provided is inadequate.
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Apr 1, 2010
By:
Kurt A. Grimm, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVA, DACVCP
Patients vary and accidents occur. This truth emphasizes the need for patient monitoring. One only need visit the exhibit hall of a major veterinary meeting to appreciate the advancements made in veterinary patient monitoring.
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Apr 1, 2010
By:
Kurt A. Grimm, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVA, DACVCP
The electrocardiogram is a useful monitoring tool, but its proper use requires training. It provides a heart rate and a picture of the electrical activity of the heart muscle. The anesthetist should be trained to recognize many commonly encountered intraoperative arrhythmias (e.g., multifocal and unifocal ventricular premature complexes, atrioventricular blockade, ventricular tachycardia, etc.) and the veterinarian should be prepared to treat arrhythmias when they occur (if necessary).
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Apr 1, 2010
By:
Kurt A. Grimm, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVA, DACVCP
Alpha 2 adrenergic agonists bind to alpha 2 receptors located in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and brainstem, modulating the release of substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide and various other neurotransmitters involved in rostral transmission of nociceptive information.
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Apr 1, 2010
By:
Kurt A. Grimm, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVA, DACVCP
Patient stress is probably a contributing factor in some cases of adverse patient outcome. Stress during induction of anesthesia can increase circulating catecholamine concentration predisposing the heart to arrhythmias.
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