Course description
In this lab-based course, students practice skills related to canine and feline veterinary anesthesia. Practical anesthesia skills covered include calculation of drug doses, pre-anesthetic preparation, administration of injectable and inhalant drugs, anesthetic equipment, patient monitoring, detection and management of anesthetic complications, post-anesthetic care and pain prevention.
Course content
Pharmacology:
- sedative, anesthetic and analgesic drugs
- drug calculations
- methods of drug administration
- controlled drug log
Anesthetic planning and equipment
- patient risk assessment
- equipment choice and maintenance
- anesthetic protocols
- anesthetic monitoring equipment
- anesthetic breathing systems, circuits and ancillary equipment
- compressed and waste gas safety
General anesthesia
- sedation and anesthetic drug administration
- endotracheal intubation and safe cuff inflation
- anesthetic support including fluid therapy, heat supplementation and assisted breathing
- stages of anesthesia
- cardiovascular and respiratory system monitoring
- problem solving equipment errors
- identification and treatment of abnormal vitals signs
- anesthetic emergencies
- recovery and post-anesthetic monitoring and care
- anesthetic monitoring forms and controlled drug logs
Learning activities
This is a lab-only course. Practical anesthesia skills will be taught and practiced in-person using canine and feline models (including cadavers).
Means of assessment
Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester.
This course will use a Mastery-based assessment. Students will receive a Mastery ("MAS") grade based on attendance at a minimum of 80% of the scheduled laboratory hours and successful completion of all learning outcomes.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- discuss the pharmacology and administration routes of drugs used for analgesia, sedation and anesthesia;
- calculate sedative, anesthetic and analgesic drug dosages and describe their physiological effects;
- assess patient risk for anesthesia using the American Society of Anesthesiologists scoring system;
- choose appropriate anesthetic protocols according to patient risk;
- describe patient preparation for anesthesia including pre-sedation medication protocols;
- demonstrate safe medication preparation and draw up;
- set up, and safely use, inhalant anesthetic machines and breathing circuits;
- administer sedative, anesthetic and analgesic drug dosages;
- safely place and maintain an endotracheal tube in a dog or cat;
- use anesthetic monitoring equipment such as doppler and oscillometric blood pressure monitors, ECG, capnograph and pulse oximeter;
- assess patient anesthetic depth and stage of anesthesia;
- monitor vital signs and troubleshoot abnormal vital signs;
- provide patient support during anesthesia including fluid therapy and heat supplementation;
- safely demonstrate procedures for assisted breathing during general anesthesia;
- discuss patient recovery procedures and potential compiications;
- accurately record data onto anesthetic monitoring charts, logs and medical records;
- identify anesthetic emergencies and discuss the use of emergency drugs and equipment.
Textbook materials
Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include:
- Thomas & Lerche (Current Edition). Anesthesia & Analgesia for the Veterinary Technician. Elsevier.