Introduction

• Successful outcomes depend upon:
  • Prompt recognition of developing problems.
  • Rapid diagnosis of the underlying cause.
  • Taking appropriate measures to correct the problem quickly.
  • Monitoring of patient during anesthesia to avert accidents during and after anesthesia.
• Main requirements during anesthesia:
  • Adequate delivery of oxygen to tissues (3-5 ml/kg/min).
  • Removal of waste products from tissues.
  • Failure to achieve the above can result in serious complications particularly tissue hypoxia and cell death.
    Brain is particularly sensitive to hypoxia: permanent dysfunction/death can result within minutes of disrupted oxygen supply.

Airway obstruction

Respiratory insufficiency

Management of respiratory insufficiency/apnea/respiratory arrest

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.

Other sources of information

• Hall L W & Taylor P M (1994) Eds Anesthesia of the Cat. London: Bailliere Tindall. pp 249-266, 270-273, 274-309. ISBN 0 7020 1665 9
• Bedford P G C (1991) Small Animal Anesthesia, The Increased Risk Patient. London: Bailliere Tindall. p 92- 132. ISBN 0 7020 1501 6.
• Richards D L S (1989) Anesthetic accidents and emergencies. In: Manual of Anesthesia for Small Animal Practice. Ed: A D R Hilbery. Cheltenham: British Small Animal Veterinary Association. pp 95-99. ISBN 0 905214 09 9.
• Hall L W (1982) Relaxant drugs in small animal anesthesia. In: Proceedings of the Association of Veterinary Anesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland Supplement to 10, pp 144-155.