Anesthesia works by causing unconsciousness, relaxing muscles and blocking pain. Injectable anesthetics travel directly through the bloodstream to the brain to cause unconsciousness. Inhalation anesthetics are gasses that are inhaled in to the lungs and absorbed in to the bloodstream, then travel to the brain to cause or continue unconsciousness.Our qualified staff are trained to closely monitor your pet throughout their anesthetic and through their recovery. We utilize multi-parameter monitoring to assist us with the care of your pet throughout their anesthetic. Monitored parameters include depth of anesthesia, heart rate and rhythm, pulse rate, breathing rate, oxygen levels and, most importantly, blood pressure. This information is constantly assessed by the anesthetist looking for trends or changes and is recorded on an anesthetic chart. This assessment allows us to balance the depth of anesthesia, muscle relaxation and pain control with maximum patient safety .
Since patient body temperature and blood pressure are critical factors in safe anesthesia, additional patient support is provided using a ‘Bair Hugger’ (warm air) temperature management system and intravenous fluid therapy. Maintaining body temperature is a key factor in maintaining normal metabolic function in our patients, and supporting the circulatory system using fluid support helps to maintain blood pressure and healthy organ perfusion.
These simple steps have been shown to produce a smooth and rapid recovery from the effects of anesthesia, avoiding the severe complications that may occur without such support.
At Cayman Animal Hospital we only use the most modern anesthetic agents and protocols available. Both ‘Propofol’ (the injectable induction agent) and ‘Isoflurane’ (the inhaled agent) are fast acting and rapidly cleared from all body systems. In addition to this, our advanced monitoring and intensive patient support techniques, together with a detailed pain management plan, ensure that your pet will be bright, alert and comfortable when they go home.
