Anesthesia

Risk

Explanation

Solutio

Disease

Diseased systems don't do their jobs normally.

Further damage to organs, prolongs anesthetic recovery, and difficulty sustaining life, all may be consequences.

Medical History.

Physical Exam.

Blood Work-Can show subclinical problems or help define abnormalities of history or physical exam.

Treat or stabilize disease.

Choose safer anesthetics.

Decreased Heart Rate

Anesthetics may slow body systems.

Monitoring patients during anesthesia and use of drugs when needed.

Decreased Breathing Rate

Anesthetics may slow body systems.

Monitoring respiratory rate.

Intubation-tube in the trachea, or wind pipe, that allows assistance of breathing if needed.

Decreased Blood Pressure

Anesthetics can cause relaxation of smooth muscle, lowering blood pressure.

Low blood pressure can decrease oxygen delivery to tissues.

IV fluids help maintain blood pressure and oxygen delivery to cells.

Monitoring.

Emergency Adverse Reaction

Rare: unpredictable complications.

IV catheter allows immediate delivery of emergency drugs.

Vomiting

Breathing vomit into lungs, causing pneumonia.

Damage to the esophagus (tube that carries food to stomach), by stomach acids.

Fasting prior to anesthesia

Intubation (tube in the trachea) with inflatable cuff to seal the trachea and prevent anything from entering the lungs.

Low Body Temp

Anesthetics slow body systems and pets can become cold.

Heat lamps, hot water bottles, blankets, and pads.

Nausea after anesthesia

Very common.

Small amounts of water after anesthesia. Monitor for vomiting, then small amounts of food.