ABSTRACT
Standard Surgical Anesthetic Procedures In establishing a regimen for anesthesia in clinical practice, clinicians usually select a technique and procedure for normal healthy animals with which he or she has the most experience. This is a comfort zone that works. Protocols are modified as new procedures and drugs are presented, especially if an unfortunate outcome occurs. With the availability of various induction agents as listed in Chapter 2 that can be given IM or IV and inhalation techniques with isoflurane or sevoflurane, safer and better control of anesthetic depth, better predictability from patient to patient and smoother anesthesia recovery can be achieved. For normal, P1 and P2 patients, thiopental, propofol, ketamine/diazepam or ketamine/midazolam are often used to accomplish induction by injection to permit tracheal intubation with anesthesia maintained with an inhalation of preference.
The common anesthetic protocol recommended for the normal healthy dog undergoing elective surgery is: optional premedication with atropine or glycopyrrolate; light tranquilization with acepromazine (0.01 to 0.1mg/kg) for apprehensive patients or fear biters and 0.05 to 0.1mg/kg butorphanol or hydromorphone; induction with thiopental, propofol, or ketamine/benzodiazapine mixture; tracheal intubation; and maintenance with isoflurane or sevoflurane. The Bain circuit or preferred semiopen system is used for patients less than 7 kg but larger animals are maintained with a semiclosed circle CO2 absorption system. An IV catheter is placed before induction and a balanced electrolyte drip started at a rate of 10ml/kg/hr. For cats, ketamine/benzodiazapine mixture is most commonly used followed by an inhalant. Regarding premedication, Table 5-1 provides information as to how drugs used for managing pain can influence actions of anesthetics.
