Veterinary Anaesthetists Research Articles

Abstracts presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Meeting, 24–26th September, 2014, Vienna, Austria

Abstracts presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Meeting, 24–26th September, 2014, Vienna, Austria

Comparison of anaesthesia ‘Day 1 skills’ expectations between veterinary anaesthetists and general practitioners

Day One Skills (DOS) were introduced by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in 2006 as a guideline for minimum skills required by a veterinary graduate. However, the RCVS...

Abstracts presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Spring meeting, 24th–25th April 2014, Nottingham, UK

Abstracts presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Spring meeting, 24th–25th April 2014, Nottingham, UK

Abstracts presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Autumn meeting, 3rd–4th October 2013, Moscow, Russia

Abstracts presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Autumn meeting, 3rd–4th October 2013, Moscow, Russia

Veterinary and Human Anaesthesia: An Overview of Some Parallels and Contrasts

The history of human and veterinary anaesthesia is both intertwined and parallel. Physicians and anaesthetists often first experimented on animals and developments from human anaesthesia have been incorporated into veterinary medicine. Within veterinary medicine, anaesthesia is a specialty discipline as it is in human medicine. Veterinary anaesthetists undertake additional training and rigorous examinations for a diploma or fellowship. In contrast to human anaesthesia in Australia and New Zealand, veterinary anaesthesia is often performed by non-specialists and by veterinary nurses. Veterinary anaesthesia uses many of the same drugs for premedication, induction and maintenance of anaesthesia as human anaesthesia. However, there are species specific effects of some of the drugs used that differ from the effects in humans. Furthermore, some agents, particularly alpha-2 adrenoreceptor agonists and ketamine, are used very widely in veterinary practice. Also in contrast to most human anaesthesia, in large animal and exotic animal practice the patients can present a physical danger to the anaesthetist. The most notable contrast between human and veterinary anaesthesia is in the reported perioperative complication and mortality rates, with a species dependent perianaesthetic mortality of up to 2% in dogs, cats and horses and greater than 2% in guinea pigs and birds, which is up to 100-fold higher than in human anaesthesia.

A Prospective Randomised Study to Compare the Effects of Preoperative Hypertonic Saline or Pentastarch on Haematological Variables and Long‐Term Survival of Surgical Colic Cases

AimsTo compare the effects of hypertonic saline and pentastarch on packed cell volume (PCV) and total protein (TP) immediately preoperatively and on long‐term survival of horses undergoing emergency exploratory laparotomy.MethodsOne hundred horses presenting to the Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital between 2004 and 2008 with signs of abdominal pain and PCV ≥45% were recruited. Horses were randomly allocated to receive 4 ml/kg bwt of either hypertonic saline (HS; Vetivex, 7.2%; n = 49) or pentastarch (PS; Haes‐Steril, 10%; n = 51) preanaesthesia. Blood samples were collected at presentation and post fluid resuscitation. Horse survival was tracked for 4 years following the final recruited case.ResultsThere were no significant differences between treatment groups at presentation for: age (HS, mean 13 ± 6 years; PS, mean 14 ± 6 years); body mass (HS, median 516 [130–698] kg; PS, median 525 [312–660] kg); sex (HS, 1 stallion, 34 geldings, 16 mares; PS, 2 stallions, 32 geldings, 15 mares); baseline PCV (HS, median 52 [46–70]%; PS, median 50 [45–70]%); baseline TP (HS, median 72 [46–103] g/l; PS, median 72 [50‐106] g/l); and heart rate (HS, mean 80 ± 20 beats/min; PS, mean 77 ± 18 beats/min) at presentation. Hypertonic saline treatment resulted in a significantly greater reduction in both PCV (HS, mean 13 ± 7%; PS mean 7 ± 5%; P<0.001) and TP (HS, median 16 [6–32] g/l; PS, median 2 [‐8 to 17] g/l; P<0.001), compared with pentastarch. There was no significant difference in long‐term survival between treatments (Cox proportional hazards model, P = 0.73).Conclusions and practical significanceDespite the greater reduction in haemoconcentration and likely reduction in blood viscosity incurred by HS, no benefit to overall long‐term survival was demonstrated. In a clinical setting, either of these fluids remains appropriate for preoperative fluid resuscitation in colic horses.AcknowledgementsAll the veterinary anaesthetists who assisted in data‐gathering.Ethical animal researchPermission for this study was granted by the Ethical Review Committee of the University of Liverpool's Veterinary School. Signed owner consent was obtained for all cases. Sources of funding: None. Competing interests: None.

Abstracts presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Spring meeting, 9th–10th April 2013, London, UK

Abstracts presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Spring meeting, 9th–10th April 2013, London, UK

Assessment of the variation in American Society of Anaesthesiologists Physical Status Classification assignment in small animal anaesthesia

ObjectiveTo evaluate the interobserver variability in the assignment of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification (ASA-PSC) to compromised small animal patients amongst a group of veterinary anaesthetists. Study designAnonymous internet survey. AnimalsHypothetical case presentations. MethodsSixteen hypothetical small animal cases with differing degrees of physiological or patho-physiological compromise were presented as part of an internet survey. Respondents were asked to assign a single ASA-PSC to each case and also to answer a number of demographic questions. ASA-PSC scores were considered separately and then grouped as scores of I–II and III–V. Agreement was analysed using the modified kappa statistic for multiple observers. Data were then sorted into various demographic groups for further analysis. ResultsThere were 144 respondents of which 60 (∼42%) were anaesthesia diplomates, 24 (∼17%) were post-residency (nondiploma holders), 24 (∼17%) were current anaesthesia residents, 21 (∼15%) were general practitioners, 12 (∼8%) were veterinary nurses or technicians, and 3 (∼2%) were interns. Although there was a majority agreement (>50% in a single category) in 15 of the 16 cases, ASA-PSC were spread over at least three ASA-PS classifications for every case. Overall agreement was considered only fair (κ = 0.24, mean ± SD agreement 46 ± 7%). When comparing grouped data (ASA-PSC I–II versus III-V) overall agreement remained fair (κ = 0.36, mean ± SD agreement 69 ± 19%). There was no difference in ASA-PSC assignment between any of the demographic groups investigated. Conclusions and clinical relevanceThis study suggests major discrepancies can occur between observers given identical information when using the ASA-PSC to categorise health status in compromised small animal patients. The significant potential for interobserver variability in classification allocation should be borne in mind when the ASA-PSC is used for clinical, scientific and statistical purposes.

Abstracts presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Spring meeting, 22nd–23rd March 2012, Davos, Switzerland

Abstracts presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Spring meeting, 22nd–23rd March 2012, Davos, Switzerland

Abstracts presented at the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists meeting 15th September, 2011, Nashville, TN

Abstracts presented at the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists meeting 15th September, 2011, Nashville, TN

Abstracts presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Spring meeting, Bari, Italy, 13-16 April 2011

Abstracts presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Spring meeting, Bari, Italy, 13-16 April 2011

Abstracts presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Autumn meeting, 3rd–4th September 2010

Abstracts presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Autumn meeting, 3rd–4th September 2010

Abstracts presented at the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists 35th Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, 11–15 September 2010

Abstracts presented at the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists 35th Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, 11–15 September 2010

Abstracts presented at the 34th American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting, 9th–12th September 2009, Chicago, IL, USA

Abstracts presented at the 34th American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting, 9th–12th September 2009, Chicago, IL, USA

Abstracts presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Spring meeting, 30th–31st March 2010, Cambridge, UK

Abstracts presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Spring meeting, 30th–31st March 2010, Cambridge, UK

Abstracts presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Spring meeting, 4–6th March 2009, Helsinki, Finland

Abstracts presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Spring meeting, 4–6th March 2009, Helsinki, Finland

Abstracts Presented at the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists Autumn Conference, 18 September 2008, Phoenix, AZ, USA

Abstracts Presented at the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists Autumn Conference, 18 September 2008, Phoenix, AZ, USA

Abstracts Presented at the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists Conference, 27–28 September 2007, New Orleans, LA, USA: The following studies all received ethical approval by institutional and/or national review committees

Abstracts Presented at the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists Conference, 27–28 September 2007, New Orleans, LA, USA: The following studies all received ethical approval by institutional and/or national review committees

In cooperation with the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists

In cooperation with the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists

Abstracts Presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Autumn Meeting, Leipzig, Germany, 19-21 September 2007

Abstracts Presented at the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Autumn Meeting, Leipzig, Germany, 19-21 September 2007